San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley is a public community college district comprising three colleges: Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. It is part of the California Community Colleges system, which is publicly funded and operated by the state. Public institutions like these typically offer lower tuition rates, especially for in-state residents, and focus on accessible education, workforce training, and transfer programs to four-year universities.
The district serves San Mateo County and emphasizes open enrollment, affordability, and community engagement, distinguishing it from private universities that rely on tuition and endowments for funding.
