Monterey Peninsula College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, 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 Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 7,173 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Monterey Peninsula College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College ($5,831 vs. $14,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of San Mateo are 10.9% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($31,288 vs. $35,118).
• College of San Mateo is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Monterey Peninsula College (about $144 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,188.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at CSM than at Monterey Peninsula College (about $812 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Monterey Peninsula College than at College of San Mateo (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students is 16% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,088 vs. $4,386).

Monterey Peninsula College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Monterey Peninsula College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027.

Monterey Peninsula College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Monterey Peninsula 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 $5,900 more per year than Monterey Peninsula College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 31%)

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.