College of San Mateo
Rolling
Acceptance rate
$10,584
Tuition/yr
7,500
Enrollment
41:1
Student:Faculty
About College of San Mateo
Community college on San Francisco Peninsula, CA. Strong transfer programs and tech training.
College of San Mateo (CSM) is a public two-year community college established in 1922, making it the first community college in San Mateo County. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The college enrolls approximately 9,900 students across associate degree, certificate, and transfer-preparation programs.
CSM is well regarded for its transfer pipeline to University of California and California State University campuses. Students frequently transfer to UC Berkeley, UCLA, and other selective institutions after completing their lower-division coursework at CSM. The college offers programs in STEM fields, business, health sciences, liberal arts, and computer information systems, with articulation agreements that map CSM coursework directly to four-year university requirements.
The campus is located in San Mateo, a city on the San Francisco Peninsula in the heart of Silicon Valley, roughly 20 miles south of San Francisco. This location gives students access to internship and employment opportunities in the technology, biotech, and finance sectors. The surrounding area has a high cost of living, though CSM's tuition is significantly lower than four-year institutions.
Campus & Location
CA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- CSM's primary appeal for Nepali students is its low-cost pathway to a UC or CSU degree: two years at CSM followed by transfer to UC Berkeley or UCLA costs far less than four years at a private university, and CSM's location in Silicon Valley creates direct access to tech internships and networks.
- International undergraduate tuition and fees for full-time students run approximately $10,584 per year (2026-2027), with a total estimated cost of attendance including housing and health insurance of around $32,500, considerably cheaper than a four-year university in California.
- F-1 visa holders who complete an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution remain eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) at the bachelor's level after transferring, and STEM graduates can apply for the 24-month OPT extension, giving Nepali graduates up to three years of US work authorisation.
- CSM's diverse student body, 75% minority enrollment with 25% Asian students, means South Asian students generally find an established peer community, and the Bay Area hosts one of the largest Nepali diaspora concentrations in the United States.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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