College of Alameda vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

College of Alameda vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($5,685 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 11.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,820 vs. $25,908).
• College of Alameda is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $102 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at SMC than at College of Alameda (about $810 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at Santa Monica College (86% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 2.9% larger than aid received by College of Alameda students ($5,540 vs. $5,385).

College of Alameda vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda.

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

College of Alameda vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 $2,300 more per year than College of Alameda graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 30%)

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.