College of San Mateo Tuition & Completion (2026)
College of San Mateo is a public community college in San Mateo, California, serving roughly 7,977 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $536 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,332. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (35.0%) and White (23.5%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,332
- 2024 Average Net Price: $536 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,977 26.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 60.81%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 51.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition decrease of 3.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 36.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 40.9%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,486
- Room & Board: $31,288 annual estimate
College of San Mateo: what the data shows
Common questions about College of San Mateo, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is College of San Mateo?
College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA (ZIP 94402-3784).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is College of San Mateo public or private?
College of San Mateo is a Public institution.
How much does College of San Mateo cost?
Published tuition: $1,332 in-state, $11,384 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $536.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $-1,310 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $-902 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $3,342 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $6,342 |
| $110,001+ | $7,818 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,328.
How big is College of San Mateo?
Total enrollment: 7,977 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 16,486 students.
About 27% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at College of San Mateo?
150%-time completion rate: 60.81%.
First-year retention: 72.6%.
What do graduates of College of San Mateo earn?
Median earnings: $43,803 six years after entry; $54,172 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $14,695.
10.89% of students receive Pell grants.
What is College of San Mateo known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (213 completions)
- Social Sciences, General (153 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (145 completions)
- Psychology, General (77 completions)
- Economics, General (68 completions)
- Mathematics, General (52 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (49 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (48 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (42 completions)
- Computer Science (36 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is College of San Mateo a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 60.81%; median earnings $54,172 at 10 years; net price $536. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,332
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at College of San Mateo was $1,332.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$536
2024 Value
In 2024 College of San Mateo had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $536.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$2,144 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$536 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,328 4-Year In-State Tuition
$45,536 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$31,288 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,971 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$34,591 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$138,364 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for College of San Mateo.
Financial Aid by Income Level
10.89% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.61% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at College of San Mateo was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for College of San Mateo in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,418 | $6,150 | $5,774 |
| 2014 | $1,418 | $6,206 | $2,177 |
| 2015 | $1,324 | $7,308 | $2,140 |
| 2016 | $1,400 | $6,300 | $1,688 |
| 2017 | $1,400 | $6,300 | $1,521 |
| 2018 | $1,344 | $6,300 | $1,302 |
| 2019 | $1,434 | $9,094 | $1,239 |
| 2020 | $1,434 | $9,094 | $1,062 |
| 2021 | $1,440 | $10,114 | $984 |
| 2022 | $1,376 | $9,496 | $2,369 |
| 2023 | $1,332 | $11,384 | $1,504 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
College of San Mateo reported total enrollment of about 7,977 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (35.0%), White (23.5%), and Asian (23.0%). About 10.89% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 51.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
26.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at College of San Mateo in 2024 is 7,977 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 16,486 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 35.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
21.14% 100% Completion Time
60.81% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 21.14% of students graduating from College of San Mateo completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 42% male / 58% female
- Social Sciences, General: 45% male / 55% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for College of San Mateo.
Return on Investment
$14,695 Median Student Debt
$54,172 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
27.13% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
25166.79% Return on Investment
2.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for College of San Mateo.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 53 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 213 completions
2. Social Sciences, General: 153 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 145 completions
4. Psychology, General: 77 completions
5. Economics, General: 68 completions
6. Mathematics, General: 52 completions
7. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 49 completions
8. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 48 completions
9. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 42 completions
Most popular programs at College of San Mateo.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for College of San Mateo graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for College of San Mateo from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 40.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,450
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,125
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
College of San Mateo is a public institution located in San Mateo, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Social Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 7,977 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (35.0%), White (23.5%), Asian (23.0%). The 150%-time completion rate is 60.81%. Approximately 10.89% of students receive Pell Grants. About 51.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
San Mateo, CA 94402-3784
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 53 distinct degree programs, College of San Mateo provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is College of San Mateo located?
College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA.
How much does College of San Mateo cost?
Reported tuition is $1,332 and average net price is $536 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $31,288 annually.
What is the student body demographics at College of San Mateo?
College of San Mateo reports undergraduate enrollment of about 16,486 students, Hispanic or Latino (35.0%), White (23.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend College of San Mateo?
About 51.0% of students at College of San Mateo are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of College of San Mateo earn?
Median earnings are $43,803 six years after entry and $54,172 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at College of San Mateo?
The 150%-time completion rate is 60.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do College of San Mateo students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $14,695.
Is College of San Mateo public or private?
College of San Mateo is a public institution located in San Mateo, CA.
Is College of San Mateo an HBCU?
No. College of San Mateo is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is College of San Mateo a tribal college?
No. College of San Mateo is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is College of San Mateo a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—College of San Mateo reports 35.0% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is College of San Mateo religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for College of San Mateo in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.