Cypress College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cypress College in Cypress, 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 Cypress College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 15,924 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cypress College is located in Cypress, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Cypress College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cypress College 25:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cypress College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cypress 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 Cypress College ($5,685 vs. $7,253).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cypress College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• Santa Monica College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cypress College (about $6 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.6% higher at Cypress College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,671 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cypress College than at Santa Monica College (89% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cypress College students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,345 vs. $5,540).

Cypress College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cypress College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cypress College Aug 25, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Cypress College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cypress 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 Cypress College earn a median of about $300 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Cypress College graduates ($6,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cypress College graduates ($67 vs. $98).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cypress College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 38%)

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.