
About
College of San Mateo, located in San Mateo, California, was founded in 1922 and is part of the San Mateo Community College District. The school is in the Bay Area of California, between San Jose and San Francisco and is part of the California Community College System, which is comprised of 122 colleges throughout the state. CSM serves over 10,000 students annually through a large number of programs and services available on campus. The school has grown considerably in terms of enrollment and size over the years to better accommodate the community, and assist in its academic and professional development.
Academics
College of San Mateo offers a variety of programs that allow for academic growth or professional career development. Academic transfer programs give students the opportunity to take on a curriculum that completes the first two years of a four year program locally and at low cost, followed by the application to bachelor degree granting institutions in order to continue one's education. Transfer to public California institutions is facilitated by agreements in place that guarantee admission if certain requirements are met. Individuals interested in transfer to private or out of state schools should meet with a counselor to discuss transfer and curriculum options.
Career training programs provide students with an education in a given field or industry with the intention of assisting them in entering the workforce as a qualified professional for the purpose of long term employment. Students will participate in a traditional and practical courses as needed by the program, with practical courses providing training and development in a controlled environment under the supervision of professionals. These programs take between one and two years to complete, and result in an associate degree or certificate which demonstrates competency.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
The College of San Mateo admits any interested individuals as long as they are a high school graduate or at least eighteen years of age. Students wishing to enroll must complete the application for admissions, pay all fees, supply transcripts and test scores if available, and may be required to take a placement exam prior to registration. Students are also encouraged to participate in new student orientation and to meet with a counselor to discuss program enrollment and curriculum prior to the selection of courses.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and is awarded based on need. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information provided by which will be used by the school's financial aid department to determine the extent of a given student's need and their aid program eligibility when constructing his or her financial aid packet. Aid must be applied for prior to each academic year and it is recommended that the application be completed in a timely fashion.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $4,800. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition estimates per year:
- State Residents: $1,300-$1,500
- Out-of-State: $7,300-$8,702
- For part-time students, charges are between $56-$67 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 47% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 47% | $3,968 |
Receiving Student Loans | 1% | $3,507 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, College of San Mateo may offer services to students including:
- Online classes
- Weekend and night classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assistance to find work
- Day care
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Many community colleges are not only a source of technical or career training but also a stepping stone for students to transfer-out to a 4-year college, therefore we have included both graduation and transfer rates below and how this school compares against other community colleges in San Mateo County and the community colleges in California as a whole.
CSM | San Mateo County | California | |
---|---|---|---|
Graduation Rate | 13.9% | 15.2% | 24.3% |
Transfer-out Rate | 21.0% | 18.6% | 13.8% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Dental Assistant Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1961)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by College of San Mateo by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Architectural Technology (A)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (A)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Business Administration (A, C)
- Retail Management (C)
- Commerce (A)
- Sales Manager (A, C)
- Administrative Assistant (C)
- Real Estate (A)
- Sales (A)
Communication Technology
- Prepress , Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design (A, C)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (A, C)
- Radio and Television (A)
- Journalism
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Programming (A, C)
- Computer Science (A)
- Computer and Information Systems Security (C)
- Web Design
- Computer Graphics
- Computer Networking
Construction Trades
Engineering
- Pre-Engineering (A)
Engineering Technology
- Biomedical Technology (C)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (A, C)
- Engineering Technology
English Language and Literature
- English (A)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Ethnic Studies (A)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (A, C)
- Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A)
- Dental Assistant (A, C)
- Physician Assistant (A)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling (A, C)
- Health Preparatory Programs
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine
History
- History (A)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (A)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A, C)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Electrical Equipment Installation and Repair (C)
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cosmetology (A, C)
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (A)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Human Services (A)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (C)
- Physical Fitness Technician (C)
- Kinesiology And Exercise Science (A)
Security and Protective Services
- Police Science (A, C)
- Fire Prevention (A, C)
Social Sciences
- Social Science (A)
- Sociology (A)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Photography (A)
- Visual and Performing Arts (A, C)
- Film Studies (A)
- Art Studies (A)
- Music (A, C)
- Graphic Design (C)
- Commercial and Advertising Art
- Drawing
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to College of San Mateo.
- Canada College in Redwood City, CA (7 miles away)
- Skyline College in San Bruno, CA (10 miles away)
- Chabot College in Hayward, CA (15 miles away)
- City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (15 miles away)
- Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA (16 miles away)