Orange Coast College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA with College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Orange Coast College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Orange Coast 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: Orange Coast College 27:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Orange Coast College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College ($5,831 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 38.8% lower than at College of San Mateo ($19,159 vs. $31,288).
• Orange Coast College is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $60 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Orange Coast College than at College of San Mateo (about $256 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Orange Coast College (80% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 25.2% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,493 vs. $4,386).

Orange Coast College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College.

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

Orange Coast College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 $2,600 more per year than Orange Coast College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($67 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Orange Coast College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 51%)

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.