Laney College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Laney College in Oakland, CA with College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of San Mateo is larger than Laney College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 9,328 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laney College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Laney College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laney College 31:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Laney College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laney College or CSM? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of San Mateo than Laney College ($5,831 vs. $17,741).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laney College are 27.1% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,820 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laney College (about $74 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at CSM than at Laney College (about $1,486 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Laney College (80% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Laney College students is 17.7% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,164 vs. $4,386).

Laney College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laney College or CSM? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSM and Laney College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Laney College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.

Laney College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laney College and CSM? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from College of San Mateo earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Laney College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Laney College graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laney College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laney College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.