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Pasadena City College Los Angeles City College Harbor College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College GCC DVC Moorpark College Long Beach City College| El Camino Community College District | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ECC | SMC | ||
| Location | Torrance, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,944 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elcamino.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ECC | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,104 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,944 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $6,090 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,529 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 70% | 64% |
Admission |
ECC | 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 27, 2025 | Aug 30, 2025 |
Academics |
ECC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 26:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
ECC | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $36,400 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 25% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | N/A | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | N/A | $67 |
Diversity |
ECC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 13% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 14% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 51% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ECC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
ECC | 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 ECC based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 19,944 students)
ECC vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ECC or SMC?
- El Camino Community College District and SMC cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,104.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at SMC than El Camino Community College District ($9,048.00 vs. $7,944.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at El Camino Community College District than SMC ($6,090 vs. $6,656)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 53.9% lower than costs at El Camino Community College District ($11,556 vs. $17,784)
- More students receive financial grant aid at El Camino Community College District than Santa Monica College (70% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by El Camino Community College District students is 83.4% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($8,529 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, ECC or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or ECC .
ECC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ECC 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 ECC.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $2,600 more per year than ECC graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $36,400)
- More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC 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/