College of San Mateo — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of San Mateo charges a net price of $536/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $1,072. Graduates earn a median $54,172 ten years after entry, $5,812/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 0.2 years — a 20-year net return of $115,168, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $536/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $1,072 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,172 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,812/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $14,695 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 0.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $115,168 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.