Compton College vs. SMC

Deciding between Compton 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.

Compton College
Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Compton College Compton, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Compton College Small City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Compton College 5,225
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Compton College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Compton College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Compton College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Compton College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Compton College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Compton College $1,142
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Compton College $8,822
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Compton College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Compton College $14,449
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Compton College $6,316
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Compton College 75%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Compton College 17:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Compton College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (40%)
    • Work and Family Studies (20%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Compton College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Compton College $36,400
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Compton College 25%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Compton College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Compton College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Compton College 40%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Compton College 60%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Compton College Medium
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Compton College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Compton College 3%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Compton College 4%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Compton College 31%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Compton College 58%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Compton College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Compton College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Compton College 3%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Compton College 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Compton College 0%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Compton College 98%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Compton College 2%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Compton College in Compton, 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 Compton College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 5,225 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Compton College is located in Compton, CA (Small City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Compton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Compton College 17:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Compton College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Compton 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 Compton College ($5,685 vs. $14,449).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Compton College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Santa Monica College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Compton College (about $14 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,142.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.4% higher at SMC than at Compton College (about $1,886 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,822.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Compton College than at Santa Monica College (75% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Compton College students is 14% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,316 vs. $5,540).

Compton College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Compton College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Compton 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 $2,600 more per year than Compton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Compton College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 25%)

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.