Antelope Valley Community College District vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Monica College is larger than Antelope Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 13,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Antelope Valley Community College District is located in Lancaster, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Antelope Valley Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Antelope Valley Community College District 23:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Antelope Valley Community College District or SMC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than Antelope Valley Community College District ($5,685 vs. $6,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Antelope Valley Community College District are 46.1% lower than at Santa Monica College ($13,960 vs. $25,908).
• Santa Monica College is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Antelope Valley Community College District (about $32 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,124.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at SMC than at Antelope Valley Community College District (about $1,160 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,548.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Antelope Valley Community College District than at Santa Monica College (87% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Antelope Valley Community College District students is 17.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,490 vs. $5,540).

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Antelope Valley Community College District or SMC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SMC and Antelope Valley Community College District.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Antelope Valley Community College District - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Antelope Valley Community College District and SMC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Santa Monica College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($6,500 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($67 vs. $113).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Antelope Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 19%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.