Bakersfield College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bakersfield College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 23,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Bakersfield College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College 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 Bakersfield College ($5,685 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bakersfield College are 6.6% lower than at Santa Monica College ($24,192 vs. $25,908).
• Bakersfield College is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $274 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Bakersfield College than at Santa Monica College (about $592 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,940 vs. $5,540).

Bakersfield College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College 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 Bakersfield College.

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

Bakersfield College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College 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 $4,100 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $2,455 lower median loan debt than Bakersfield College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,955).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bakersfield College graduates ($67 vs. $92).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 26%)

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.