From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of San Mateo. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
14
83,804 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
College of San Mateo
Residents in college
7%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.2 mi
College of San Mateo · $1,332 tuition
Nearest public university
9.9 mi
Skyline College · $1,272 in-state
Median household income
$154K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in San Mateo
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at Over $110k, where San Mateo’s median household income ($153,504) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of San Mateo: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
San Francisco State University50% graduate$68k earnings$15k typical debt
Notre Dame de Namur University7% graduate$75k earnings$25k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Carrington College-San Leandro Campus (5).
Majors
What students study in San Mateo
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at College of San Mateo, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Business Administration, Management and Operations126 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Psychology, General66 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing51 graduates a year
$145k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies45 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections37 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in San Mateo
Is San Mateo a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 San Mateo residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, College of San Mateo, has 6,728 students on campus.
What colleges are in San Mateo?
College of San Mateo is inside the city.
What is the closest community college to San Mateo, and what does it cost?
College of San Mateo in San Mateo, 2.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $536, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Skyline College cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $1,272 a year in-state and $9,956 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $842 (under $30,000 income) to $5,974 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of San Mateo. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Ernest Coxhead House · Photo: Eugene Zelenko · CC BY-SA 4.0