Fresno City College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Fresno City College in Fresno, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fresno City College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 23,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fresno City College 29:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Fresno City College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College ($5,685 vs. $9,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 30.6% lower than at Santa Monica College ($17,982 vs. $25,908).
• Fresno City College is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $178 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at SMC than at Fresno City College (about $554 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,154.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at Santa Monica College (92% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 30.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,210 vs. $5,540).

Fresno City College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College.

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

Fresno City College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City 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 $7,300 more per year than Fresno City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $2,655 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($3,845 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($39 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno City College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 32%)

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.