Cuesta College vs. SMC

Deciding between Cuesta 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
  • Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Cuesta College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cuesta College 11,283
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Cuesta College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cuesta College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Cuesta College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cuesta College $1,350
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cuesta College $11,010
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Cuesta College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Cuesta College $16,541
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College $4,143
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College 75%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cuesta College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Cuesta College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cuesta College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cuesta College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cuesta College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cuesta College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cuesta College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Cuesta College
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cuesta College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cuesta College 27:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cuesta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (2%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cuesta College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cuesta College $40,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cuesta College $11,250
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cuesta College $116
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cuesta College 49%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cuesta College Medium
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cuesta College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Cuesta College 62%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Cuesta College 3%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Cuesta College 2%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cuesta College 27%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cuesta College 5%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cuesta College 94%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, 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 Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cuesta College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College 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 Cuesta College ($5,685 vs. $16,541).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Cuesta College is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $194 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Cuesta College than at Santa Monica College (about $302 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Santa Monica College (75% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 33.7% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,540 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College 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 Cuesta College.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuesta College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($6,500 vs. $11,250).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($67 vs. $116).
  • More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 45%)

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.