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Head-to-head · 2026

College of San Mateo vs Hartnell College

Side-by-side ROI breakdown. 4 wins for College of San Mateo, 0 for Hartnell College — College of San Mateo has more metric-level advantages.

Face to face

Metric-by-metric, winner flagged

9 metrics, side by side. The colored cell wins. Green = lower-is-better wins, indigo = higher-is-better wins.

Metric College of San Mateo Hartnell College
ROI score 252.67 54.34
Avg net price $536 $2,039
Median earnings (10y) $54,172 $44,316
Acceptance rate Open / not reported Open / not reported
Graduation rate 60.8% 40%
Median debt $14,695
Enrollment 7,977 9,453
Ownership Public Public
Avg SAT
Wins 4 0

Value readout

Where each school has the edge

Hartnell College costs $1,503 more per year than College of San Mateo ($2,039 vs $536). College of San Mateo graduates report $9,856 higher median earnings after ten years ($54,172 vs $44,316). On EduGradify's model that puts College of San Mateo ahead on projected ROI (252.67 vs 54.34, exceptional investment).

The more affordable option (College of San Mateo) also posts the better return, making it the lower-risk pick on cost alone. On admissions, neither school reports a standard acceptance rate in the current federal data, so this matchup should lean on price, outcomes and fit instead.

Frequently asked

College of San Mateo vs Hartnell College, answered

4 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.

Is College of San Mateo or Hartnell College the better value?

College of San Mateo has the higher EduGradify ROI score (252.67 vs 54.34), meaning its ten-year earnings go further against its net price.

Which school costs less after aid?

College of San Mateo is cheaper — average net price $536 per year vs $2,039 at Hartnell College. The annual difference of $1,503 adds up to about $6,012 over four years.

Which school reports higher earnings?

College of San Mateo reports higher median earnings ten years after entry: $54,172 vs $44,316 at Hartnell College. The annual gap in the federal data is $9,856.

What should I compare beyond ROI?

Use the ROI score as a value screen, then compare aid letters, program fit, graduation rate, location, campus size, and debt. College of San Mateo reports a A+ value grade; Hartnell College reports A+.