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De Anza College Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College Orange Coast College GCC Canada College West Valley College DVC| Foothill College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
| Location | Los Altos Hills, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 12,434 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | foothill.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,395 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,340 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $20,250 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,013 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,300 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 67% | 64% |
Admission |
Foothill College | 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 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 25:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,400 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $8,972 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $92 | $67 |
Diversity |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 33% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 24% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Foothill College | SMC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than Foothill College based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 12,434 students)
Foothill College vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or SMC?
- Foothill College is 26.4% more expensive to attend than SMC for in-state tuition ($1,395.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.3% higher at Foothill College than Santa Monica College ($11,340.00 vs. $9,048.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than Foothill College ($6,656 vs. $11,013)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 75.2% lower than costs at Foothill College ($11,556 vs. $20,250)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Foothill College than Santa Monica College (67% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 8.1% larger than aid received Foothill College ($4,650 vs. $4,300)
Which college is harder to get into, Foothill College or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or Foothill College .
Foothill College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Foothill College 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 Foothill College.
- Graduates from Foothill College earn on average $20,400 more per year than SMC graduates after ten years. ($59,400 vs. $39,000)
- Santa Monica College students graduate with a $2,472 lower median federal student loan debt than Foothill College graduates. ($6,500 vs. $8,972)
- SMC graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans 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/