GCC vs. SMC

Deciding between Glendale Community College and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Glendale Community College
Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GCC Glendale, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • GCC Midsize City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GCC 12,075
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • GCC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GCC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GCC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • GCC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GCC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GCC $1,191
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GCC $10,935
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • GCC $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • GCC $10,060
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GCC $6,418
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GCC 85%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GCC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • GCC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GCC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • GCC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • GCC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • GCC
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • GCC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GCC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • GCC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GCC
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • GCC
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • GCC
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GCC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • GCC
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GCC 28:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GCC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GCC $38,200
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GCC 56%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GCC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GCC N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GCC 47%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • GCC 53%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GCC High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • GCC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • GCC 45%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • GCC 10%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • GCC 3%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • GCC 32%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • GCC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GCC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GCC 3%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • GCC 5%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GCC 2%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GCC 93%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GCC 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GCC No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GCC No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • GCC No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GCC No
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • GCC Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Glendale Community College in Glendale, 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 GCC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 12,075 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Glendale Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Glendale Community College 28:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

GCC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCC 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 GCC ($5,685 vs. $10,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Glendale Community College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Glendale Community College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $35 more per year; $1,191.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at GCC than at Santa Monica College (about $227 more per year; $10,935.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Glendale Community College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Glendale Community College students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,418 vs. $5,540).

GCC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCC 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 GCC.

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

GCC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCC 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 $800 more per year than GCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More GCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.