Saddleback College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA with College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saddleback College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Saddleback 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: Saddleback College 27:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Saddleback College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College ($5,831 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 17.6% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,769 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $176 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Saddleback College than at College of San Mateo (about $476 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Saddleback College (80% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saddleback College students is 4.9% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($4,603 vs. $4,386).

Saddleback College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Saddleback College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 $500 more per year than Saddleback College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $880 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($6,120 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($63 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 46%)

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.