Harbor College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, 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 Harbor College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 9,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Harbor College is located in Wilmington, CA (Large City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Harbor 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 Harbor College 27:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Harbor College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harbor 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 Harbor College ($5,831 vs. $14,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Harbor 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 Harbor 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 Harbor College (about $816 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,568.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Harbor College than at College of San Mateo (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Harbor College students is 54.2% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,765 vs. $4,386).

Harbor College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harbor 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 Harbor College.

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

Harbor College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harbor 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 $8,100 more per year than Harbor College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Harbor College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Harbor College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harbor College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 42%)

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.