Ohlone College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohlone College in Fremont, 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 Ohlone College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 9,061 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ohlone College is located in Fremont, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Ohlone 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: Ohlone College 26:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Ohlone College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohlone 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 Ohlone College ($5,831 vs. $18,639).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohlone College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,104 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohlone College (about $130 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,202.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.6% higher at CSM than at Ohlone College (about $2,670 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $8,714.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Ohlone College (80% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ohlone College students is 10.4% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($4,840 vs. $4,386).

Ohlone College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Ohlone College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohlone 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 Ohlone College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than CSM graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohlone College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 41%)

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.