College of the Canyons vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, 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 the Canyons based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 18,075 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons 25:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

College of the Canyons vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons ($5,685 vs. $5,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• College of the Canyons is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $10 more per year; $1,166.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at College of the Canyons than at Santa Monica College (about $250 more per year; $10,958.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Santa Monica College (83% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 20.5% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($5,540 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $3,697 lower median loan debt than College of the Canyons graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,197).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Canyons graduates ($67 vs. $105).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 36%)

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.