CSM vs. College of the Sequoias

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Sequoias is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (14,494 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting); College of the Sequoias is in Visalia, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Sequoias is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; College of the Sequoias 29:1.

CSM vs. College of the Sequoias Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or College of the Sequoias? 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 the Sequoias than CSM ($2,152 vs. $5,831).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Sequoias are 28.1% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,500 vs. $31,288).
• College of the Sequoias is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $62 more per year; $1,394.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26% higher at CSM than at College of the Sequoias (about $2,346 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Sequoias than at College of San Mateo (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Sequoias students is 60.3% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($7,030 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. College of the Sequoias Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or College of the Sequoias? 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 College of the Sequoias and CSM.

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

CSM vs. College of the Sequoias Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and College of the Sequoias? 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 $13,500 more per year than College of the Sequoias graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $31,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Sequoias graduates have a $2,973 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($4,027 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Sequoias graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($41 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Sequoias 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.