Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Grossmont College Orange Coast College GCC DVC Moorpark College| Cuyamaca College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cuyamaca College | SMC | ||
| Location | El Cajon, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,043 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuyamaca.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cuyamaca College | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,800 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,800 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,379 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,676 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 64% |
Admission |
Cuyamaca College | 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 |
Cuyamaca College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 23:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cuyamaca College | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $31,900 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 36% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $4,500 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $46 | $67 |
Diversity |
Cuyamaca College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 32% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Cuyamaca College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Cuyamaca College | 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 8,043 students)
Cuyamaca College vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College or SMC?
- Cuyamaca 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 8.3% higher at Cuyamaca College than Santa Monica College ($9,800.00 vs. $9,048.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than Cuyamaca College ($6,656 vs. $7,379)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 28.1% lower than costs at Cuyamaca College ($11,556 vs. $14,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cuyamaca College than Santa Monica College (91% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 43.6% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($6,676 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or Cuyamaca College .
Cuyamaca College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cuyamaca College 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 Cuyamaca College.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $7,100 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $31,900)
- Cuyamaca College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMC graduates. ($4,500 vs. $6,500)
- Cuyamaca College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans 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/