City College of San Francisco vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, 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 City College of San Francisco based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 19,267 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

City College of San Francisco vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco ($5,685 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 3.7% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($25,908 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 46.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $540 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.9% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Santa Monica College (about $3,948 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Monica College than at City College of San Francisco (64% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 32.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,318 vs. $5,540).

City College of San Francisco vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($67 vs. $85).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of San Francisco students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 39%)

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.