Cabrillo College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cabrillo College in Aptos, 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 Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cabrillo College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College ($5,685 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 2.4% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,281 vs. $25,908).
• Cabrillo College is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $114 more per year; $1,270.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at SMC than at Cabrillo College (about $846 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cabrillo College students is 1.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,600 vs. $5,540).

Cabrillo College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($67 vs. $108).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cabrillo College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 40%)

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.