Pierce College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, 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 Pierce College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (16,906 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pierce College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($5,831 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce College (80% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 45.9% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,398 vs. $4,386).

Pierce College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Pierce College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 $5,000 more per year than Pierce College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,800), 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 Pierce College graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce 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.