Cuyamaca College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College ($5,685 vs. $7,752).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• Cuyamaca College is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $190 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Santa Monica College (about $606 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 48.8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($8,246 vs. $5,540).

Cuyamaca College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Cuyamaca College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 Santa Monica College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College 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.