Skyline College, Cañada College and College of San Mateo stand out among hundreds of other educational institutions in the Golden State, positioned in the top three in the Bay Area. 

San Mateo, CA – Researchers revealed that San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD)’s Skyline College, Cañada College and College of San Mateo are among the top ten higher learning institutions for providing the best return on investment in California. In fact, Skyline College in San Bruno topped rankings by The College Futures Foundation and the HEA Group, a research and consulting agency focused on college access, value, and economic mobility. Together, they published Golden Returns: A Regional Look at the Return on Investment (ROI) of California’s Community and Career Colleges.   

Using a Price-to-Earnings Premium metric, the analysis assessed how quickly students recoup their educational costs, based on net price and median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Their statewide analysis examined the ROI of 327 community colleges and certificate-granting institutions.   

Skyline College, Cañada College and College of San Mateo hold the top three spots among 26 Bay Area institutions.  

Chancellor Melissa Moreno, J.D., said: “We’re proud to be a driver of economic mobility for our students and the community. A key approach is our Free College initiative: a 5-year pilot program to allocate funds that provide qualifying San Mateo County residents free tuition, books, and supplies.”  

SMCCCD’s Free College program has driven a 24% increase in enrollment over the first two years of the program. Learn more about Free College: smccd.edu/freecollege. 

Media Contact: David McLain, Executive Director, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu      

About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD): SMCCCD operates three colleges, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, that provide community college educational services to the residents of San Mateo County. The District’s colleges serve over 30,000 students annually and offer the first two years of college-level instruction in various transfer and career-technical programs. The District is governed by a six-member Board of Trustees, with five voting members elected by voters from designated areas of the County and one nonvoting student member elected by students.  Learn more at: https://smccd.edu