Pasadena City College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Pasadena City 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: Pasadena City College 23:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Pasadena City College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College ($5,831 vs. $6,888).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 37.9% lower than at College of San Mateo ($19,431 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $152 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.9% higher at CSM than at Pasadena City College (about $1,564 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Pasadena City College (80% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 54.1% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,759 vs. $4,386).

Pasadena City College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College.

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

Pasadena City College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena City 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 $6,900 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($56 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 36%)

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.