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Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College GCC DVC Moorpark College Berkeley City College| Contra Costa College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CCC | SMC | ||
| Location | San Pablo, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,832 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | contracosta.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CCC | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,988 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $20,493 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,475 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,840 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 64% |
Admission |
CCC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 30, 2025 |
Academics |
CCC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
CCC | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,000 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 28% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | N/A | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | N/A | $67 |
Diversity |
CCC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 10% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 21% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 39% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
CCC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
CCC | SMC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than CCC based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 5,832 students)
CCC vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CCC or SMC?
- Contra Costa College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than SMC for in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at SMC than Contra Costa College ($9,048.00 vs. $8,988.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than CCC ($6,656 vs. $8,475)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 77.3% lower than costs at Contra Costa College ($11,556 vs. $20,493)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Contra Costa College than Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Contra Costa College students is 4.1% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($4,840 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, CCC or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or CCC .
CCC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CCC or SMC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMC and CCC.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $2,000 more per year than CCC graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $37,000)
- More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 28%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/