Fullerton College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Fullerton College in Fullerton, 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 Fullerton College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 19,521 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Fullerton College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College ($5,685 vs. $8,306).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• Santa Monica College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $6 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.6% higher at Fullerton College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,671 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Santa Monica College (87% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 4.5% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($5,540 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $1,700 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 39%)

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.