LMC vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, 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 LMC based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Medanos 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 Medanos College 23:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

LMC vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC 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 LMC ($5,831 vs. $9,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Medanos College are 25.7% lower than at College of San Mateo ($23,238 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $20 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at CSM than at Los Medanos College (about $1,064 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at College of San Mateo (83% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Medanos College students is 16.5% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,109 vs. $4,386).

LMC vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC 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 LMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LMC - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027.

LMC vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC 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 $4,100 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 43%)

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.