Cerro Coso Community College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, 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 Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Cerro Coso Community 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: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College ($5,831 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerro Coso Community College are 22.7% lower than at College of San Mateo ($24,192 vs. $31,288).
• Cerro Coso Community College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $52 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at CSM than at Cerro Coso Community College (about $130 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $11,254.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Cerro Coso Community College (80% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students is 24.6% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,464 vs. $4,386).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community 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 $12,200 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $32,600), 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.