GOCC vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, MI with Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Michigan College is larger than GOCC based on total student enrollment (2,000 students vs. 1,183 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Glen Oaks Community College is located in Centreville, MI (Distant Rural setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Glen Oaks Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Glen Oaks Community College 24:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

GOCC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GOCC 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 Southwestern Michigan College than GOCC ($6,684 vs. $9,215).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Glen Oaks Community College are 0.6% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($10,758 vs. $10,825).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 36.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than GOCC (about $2,104 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $5,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.7% higher at SMC than at Glen Oaks Community College (about $1,770 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $6,624.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Glen Oaks Community College as at Southwestern Michigan College (94% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Glen Oaks Community College students ($8,166 vs. $7,313).

GOCC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GOCC 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 GOCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GOCC - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.

GOCC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GOCC 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 Glen Oaks Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Glen Oaks Community College graduates have a $1,338 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($10,662 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, GOCC graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($110 vs. $124).
• More GOCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 28%)

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.