College of San Mateo
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,172 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $536 A+
- 97% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 7,977
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 661.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $661.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $661.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,416,309.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 33% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $661.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of San Mateo Matters
College of San Mateo is a public community college in San Mateo, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 7,977
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose College of San Mateo
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $536 a year after grants and scholarships — 97% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,172 ten years after enrolling — 33% above the typical college, against $14,695 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.71 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The College of San Mateo serves nearly 8,000 students, offering a net price of just $536, making it one of the most affordable options in California for higher education. This low cost attracts a diverse student body, all seeking to gain valuable skills and knowledge to advance their careers.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, the economic mobility outcomes for graduates can be significant, with alumni earning a median income of $54,172 ten years after graduation. While the graduation rate stands at 59%, students who complete their programs often experience improved job prospects and financial stability.
Students who thrive at the College of San Mateo often pursue degrees in fields like social sciences, business, and health professions. With a median debt of $14,695, graduates can expect manageable repayment options relative to their earnings. The 11% Pell Grant rate indicates support for low-income students, contributing to a diverse learning environment that fosters both academic and personal growth.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective College of San Mateo is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of San Mateo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in San Mateo, California, College of San Mateo enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,450
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 21:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of San Mateo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of San Mateo is $11,384, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $536. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $14,695 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,332
- Out-of-State
- $11,384
- Avg Net Price
- $536
- Median Debt
- $14,695
- Pell Grant Rate
- 11%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $-1,310
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $-902
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,342
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at College of San Mateo — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of San Mateo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of San Mateo earn a median of $54,172, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,803
- 8 Years
- $47,260
- 10 Years
- $54,172
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (198)
- 23%
- 100% (198)
- 23%
- 100% (198)
- 23%
- 100% (198)
- 23%
How College Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is College of San Mateo Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of San Mateo delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $536/year ($2,144 total). Graduates earn $54,172 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,418,453 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,416,309 (661.6× your investment). The median debt is $14,695, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $2,144
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,418,453
- Net Return
- $1,416,309
- ROI Multiple
- 661.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $536
- Median Debt
- $14,695
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields College of San Mateo awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 23%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Health Professions 8% $88,611 early-career
- Psychology 7%
- Criminal Justice 6% $55,225 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Physical Sciences 5%
- Communications 5%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of San Mateo's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of San Mateo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in San Mateo, California, College of San Mateo enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of San Mateo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of San Mateo is $11,384, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $536. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $14,695 in federal student loans.
Is College of San Mateo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of San Mateo earn a median of $54,172, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is College of San Mateo? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of San Mateo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of San Mateo.
- Ohlone CollegeFremont, CA · Close peer53% grad $54,278 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Las Positas CollegeLivermore, CA · Close peer51% grad $51,088 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Evergreen Valley CollegeSan Jose, CA · Strong match42% grad $53,077 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine, CA · Strong match57% grad $49,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- West Valley CollegeSaratoga, CA · Strong match52% grad $51,688 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Norco CollegeNorco, CA · Strong match37% grad $51,206 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of San Mateo? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of San Mateo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note