College of San Mateo

About College of San Mateo

College of San Mateo is a public institution offering associate degrees based in San Mateo, California. It enrolls 7,977 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: collegeofsanmateo.edu

Acceptance

Open

Graduation

16.1%

Net Price

$536

Median Earnings (10yr)

$54,172

Enrollment

7,977

Student : Faculty

25:1

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, College of San Mateo generally admits all qualified applicants.

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending College of San Mateo isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $536 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)

$1,332

Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)

$11,384

Room & Board (off-campus)

$31,288

Books & Supplies

$1,971

Other Expenses (off-campus)

$5,913

Total Cost of Attendance

$10,837

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

• Under $30,000
  $-1,310
• $30,001 – $48,000
  $-902
• $48,001 – $75,000
  $3,342
• $75,001 – $110,000
  $6,342

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

Graduation Rate & Retention

16% of full-time students who enrolled at College of San Mateo graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of San Mateo earn a median of $54,172 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Who Studies Here

College of San Mateo is home to 7,977 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 73% study part-time.

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at College of San Mateo. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

What You Can Study

College of San Mateo offers an extensive catalog of programs: 48 distinct programs across 24 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at College of San Mateo is 25:1, high (larger classes are common).

Faculty by Rank

151 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Pros & Cons of College of San Mateo

A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of San Mateo tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.