Chaffey College vs. SMC

Deciding between Chaffey College and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Chaffey College
Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Chaffey College Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Chaffey College 22,460
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Chaffey College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chaffey College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Chaffey College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chaffey College $1,184
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chaffey College $11,120
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Chaffey College $25,038
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Chaffey College $7,809
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chaffey College $5,787
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chaffey College 87%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chaffey College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Chaffey College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chaffey College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Chaffey College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chaffey College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chaffey College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chaffey College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chaffey College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Chaffey College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Chaffey College 25:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Chaffey College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (49%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chaffey College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chaffey College $35,300
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chaffey College 35%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chaffey College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chaffey College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chaffey College 39%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Chaffey College 61%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chaffey College Medium
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Chaffey College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Chaffey College 17%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Chaffey College 6%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Chaffey College 8%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chaffey College 63%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Chaffey College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chaffey College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chaffey College 3%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Chaffey College 1%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chaffey College 2%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chaffey College 95%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chaffey College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Chaffey College No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Chaffey College No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Chaffey College No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Chaffey College Yes
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Chaffey College Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, 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 Chaffey College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 22,460 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Chaffey College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College ($5,685 vs. $7,809).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chaffey College are 3.4% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,038 vs. $25,908).
  • Chaffey College is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $28 more per year; $1,184.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at Chaffey College than at Santa Monica College (about $412 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at Santa Monica College (87% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 4.5% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,787 vs. $5,540).

Chaffey College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Chaffey College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 $3,700 more per year than Chaffey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chaffey 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.