Foothill College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Foothill College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($5,685 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 19.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($20,793 vs. $25,908).
• Foothill College is 35.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $409 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Foothill College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,882 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Foothill College than at Santa Monica College (67% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 31.2% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,540 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $20,400 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $2,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($67 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

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.