Cerritos College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, 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 Cerritos College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 21,859 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cerritos College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos 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 Cerritos College than SMC ($4,325 vs. $5,685).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 14.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,088 vs. $25,908).
• Cerritos College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $208 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Cerritos College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,296 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Santa Monica College (89% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,925 vs. $5,540).

Cerritos College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Cerritos College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos 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 $4,000 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($6,000 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($62 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 35%)

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.