Los Angeles City College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles City College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (14,611 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles City College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles City 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: Los Angeles City College 30:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Los Angeles City College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles City 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 Los Angeles City College ($5,831 vs. $11,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles City College are 18.8% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,407 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles City College (about $94 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at CSM than at Los Angeles City College (about $812 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Los Angeles City College (80% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 59.5% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,994 vs. $4,386).

Los Angeles City College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles City 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 Los Angeles City College.

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

Los Angeles City College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles City 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 $11,800 more per year than Los Angeles City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $2,969 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles City College graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,969).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Los Angeles City College graduates ($72 vs. $103).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles City College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 33%)

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.