CCC vs. SMC

Deciding between Contra Costa College and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CCC San Pablo, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • CCC Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CCC 6,538
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • CCC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • CCC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CCC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CCC $1,312
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CCC $10,320
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • CCC $23,238
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • CCC $11,384
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CCC $5,652
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CCC 84%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CCC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • CCC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CCC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CCC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CCC
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CCC 22:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CCC $37,000
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CCC 28%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CCC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CCC N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CCC 40%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • CCC 60%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CCC Very High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • CCC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • CCC 10%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • CCC 19%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • CCC 21%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • CCC 39%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • CCC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CCC 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CCC 6%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • CCC 3%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CCC 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CCC 92%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CCC 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CCC No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CCC No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CCC No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CCC Yes
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CCC Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Contra Costa College in San Pablo, 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 CCC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Contra Costa College is located in San Pablo, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Contra Costa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Contra Costa College 22:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

CCC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCC 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 CCC ($5,685 vs. $11,384).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Contra Costa College are 10.3% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,238 vs. $25,908).
  • Contra Costa College is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $156 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at SMC than at Contra Costa College (about $388 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Contra Costa College than at Santa Monica College (84% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Contra Costa College students is 2% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,652 vs. $5,540).

CCC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCC 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 CCC.

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

CCC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCC 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 $2,000 more per year than CCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.