San Mateo, California · Public · 2-year · Midsize city
Overview
College of San Mateo is a public two-year institution based in San Mateo, California. Its campus is in a midsize city. Fall 2024 enrollment was 9,901 students. It is part of San Mateo County Community College District.
College of San Mateo offers certificates and associate degrees across 76 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Social Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology, General. It awarded 1,242 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 55 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
The school has an open admission policy. 73% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 24 to 1.
Key figures
Open
Admission policy
9,901
Students enrolled
73%
First-year retention
1,242
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
76
Programs and majors
24:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
Free, no obligation
Request information about College of San Mateo
Tell us which programs interest you and we will reply with details on this school and others like it.
Tell us the programs you are considering and when you want to start.
We reply by email with schools and programs that fit what you told us.
We use your details only to respond to your request.
Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateAssociate
Programs and majors offered 76
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
73%
First-year retention, part-time students
48%
Student-to-faculty ratio
24:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Associate degrees
1,082
Certificates under 1 year
59
Certificates of 1 to 2 years
101
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
9,901
Undergraduates, fall 2024
9,901
Full-time, fall 2024
22%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
16,486
Full-time, 2024-25
15%
Size category
5,000 to 9,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
52%
Men
48%
White
24%
Hispanic or Latino
33%
Black or African American
3%
Asian
25%
Two or more races
7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2%
International (U.S. nonresident)
3%
Race or ethnicity unknown
3%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
55
Programs with a fully online option
2
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
44%
Students taking some online courses
20%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Midsize city
Academic calendar
Semester
Part of
San Mateo County Community College District
Carnegie classification
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
President
Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization