CRC vs. SMC

Deciding between Cosumnes River 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
  • CRC Sacramento, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • CRC Large City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CRC 15,744
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • CRC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CRC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CRC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • CRC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CRC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CRC $1,288
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CRC $12,616
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • CRC $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • CRC $8,043
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CRC $5,017
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CRC 92%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CRC 29:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CRC
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (24%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Construction Trades (6%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CRC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CRC $31,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CRC 28%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CRC $9,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CRC $98
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CRC 44%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • CRC 56%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CRC Very High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • CRC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • CRC 24%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • CRC 28%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • CRC 12%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • CRC 25%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • CRC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CRC 2%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CRC 6%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • CRC 1%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CRC 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CRC 99%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CRC 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, 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 CRC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 15,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cosumnes River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Cosumnes River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cosumnes River College 29:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

CRC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CRC 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 CRC ($5,685 vs. $8,043).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cosumnes River College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Cosumnes River College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $132 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at CRC than at Santa Monica College (about $1,908 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at Santa Monica College (92% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 10.4% larger than aid received by Cosumnes River College students ($5,540 vs. $5,017).

CRC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CRC 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 CRC.

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

CRC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CRC 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 $7,200 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than CRC graduates ($6,500 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CRC graduates ($67 vs. $98).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CRC 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.