CSM vs. FLC

Comparable Facts

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

Folsom Lake College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,098 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); Folsom Lake College is in Folsom, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Folsom Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Folsom Lake College 29:1.

CSM vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or FLC? 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 FLC ($5,831 vs. $8,982).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Folsom Lake College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than FLC (about $44 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at FLC than at College of San Mateo (about $1,232 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Folsom Lake College than at College of San Mateo (84% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 22.9% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($4,386 vs. $3,570).

CSM vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or FLC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between FLC 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; FLC - Open admission.

CSM vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and FLC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from College of San Mateo have median earnings of about $44,800 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for FLC.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than FLC graduates ($7,000 vs. $7,750).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FLC graduates ($72 vs. $80).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FLC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 33%)

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.