Palo Verde College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Palo Verde College in Blythe, 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 Palo Verde College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 3,833 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Verde College is located in Blythe, CA (Distant Rural setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Palo Verde 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: Palo Verde College 22:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Palo Verde College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College ($5,831 vs. $22,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palo Verde College are 17.6% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,767 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Verde College (about $44 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at Palo Verde College than at College of San Mateo (about $1,496 more per year; $12,880.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Verde College than at College of San Mateo (92% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 41% larger than aid received by Palo Verde College students ($4,386 vs. $3,111).

Palo Verde College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College.

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

Palo Verde College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Verde 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 $15,700 more per year than Palo Verde College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $29,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.