Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (12,519 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Trade Technical College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College 26:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College ($5,831 vs. $13,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College (about $812 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Trade Technical College than at College of San Mateo (87% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Trade Technical College students is 53.8% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,746 vs. $4,386).

Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Los Angeles Trade Technical College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Trade Technical College Sep 7, 2026.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 $12,500 more per year than Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates have a $1,625 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($5,375 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($55 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Trade Technical College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 26%)

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.