East Los Angeles College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 23,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Los Angeles College is located in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• East Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Los Angeles College 33:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

East Los Angeles College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College ($5,685 vs. $11,700).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Los Angeles College are 1.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,407 vs. $25,908).
• East Los Angeles College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $82 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at SMC than at East Los Angeles College (about $136 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Los Angeles College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Los Angeles College students is 28.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,098 vs. $5,540).

East Los Angeles College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College.

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

East Los Angeles College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for East Los Angeles 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 $4,600 more per year than East Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Los Angeles College graduates have a $684 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($5,816 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, East Los Angeles College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($60 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former East Los Angeles College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 39%)

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.