College of Marin vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Marin in Kentfield, 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 Marin based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Marin is located in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Marin 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 Marin 17:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

College of Marin vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin 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 Marin ($5,685 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Marin are 4.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($24,645 vs. $25,908).
• College of Marin is 34.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $402 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at SMC than at College of Marin (about $1,374 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Monica College than at College of Marin (64% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 10.4% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,117 vs. $5,540).

College of Marin vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

College of Marin vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin 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 College of Marin earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $7,875 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($6,500 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($67 vs. $148).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 29%)

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.