Career Training Path › California › College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402 · Phone: (650) 574-6161 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
College of San Mateo is a public trade school in San Mateo, California offering cosmetology, dental assistant, and construction trades programs, accredited by the ACCJC.
College of San Mateo has a 60.8% completion rate, near the state average of 64.2%, with median graduate debt of $14,695 and median earnings of $54,172 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for College of San Mateo; contact the school for current tuition. It participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and about 10.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
| Dental assistants | $38,790 | $50,110 | $60,670 |
| Construction laborers | $40,950 | $60,270 | $78,520 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 23 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | $22,420 | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
College of San Mateo is a public trade and career training campus located in San Mateo, California, in a midsize city setting. It participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning students who qualify can use FAFSA-based aid such as Pell Grants to help pay for enrollment. The campus is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Its most common trade programs are cosmetology schools, dental assistant schools, and construction trades programs, drawn from a total of seven program families offered on campus.
Federal data show a completion rate of 60.8%, which is near the state average of 64.2% for comparable programs. Graduates who took on debt carried a median of $14,695, and median earnings ten years after entry were reported at $54,172. About 10.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a modest share of low-income enrollment. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 44 trade program completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 7,977, this campus serves a mix of students, including those pursuing shorter, skills-focused certificates in fields like cosmetology and dental assisting. Program length details beyond program family are not reported for this campus in federal data, so prospective students should confirm schedules and program duration directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and outcome data independently, consult the ACCJC accreditor listing and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
College of San Mateo offers seven program families, most notably cosmetology schools (24), dental assistant schools (14), and construction trades programs (6).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with additional program accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students may use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 60.8%, which is near the state average of 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $14,695, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $54,172.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (650) 574-6161 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
College of San Mateo is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state funding, though individual costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm schedules and duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status through the ACCJC and review detailed outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at the provided link.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers shorter, skills-focused programs such as cosmetology and dental assisting alongside broader academic offerings, but specific fit for career changers depends on schedule details not reported in federal data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to ask about specific program requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach College of San Mateo at (650) 574-6161 or through its website at https://www.collegeofsanmateo.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in California
- College of San Mateo, Cosmetology DepartmentSan Mateo, CA · state-licensed school
- San Mateo Union High School DistrictSan Mateo, CA
- Unitek CollegeFremont, CA · college
- Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento, CA · college
- Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan Jose, CA · college
- Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA · 37% completion
- American Career College-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · 75% completion
- UEI College-Chula VistaChula Vista, CA · 71% completion
See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.