Chabot College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Chabot College in Hayward, 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 Chabot College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 12,842 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chabot College is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Chabot College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chabot College 24:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Chabot College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chabot 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 Chabot College ($5,685 vs. $11,043).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chabot College are 10.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,076 vs. $25,908).
• Santa Monica College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chabot College (about $6 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.3% higher at SMC than at Chabot College (about $2,022 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,686.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chabot College than at Santa Monica College (84% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 8.1% larger than aid received by Chabot College students ($5,540 vs. $5,125).

Chabot College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Chabot College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chabot 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 Chabot College earn a median of about $600 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,600 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $2,375 lower median loan debt than Chabot College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,875).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Chabot College graduates ($67 vs. $91).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chabot 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.