Hartnell College vs. SMC

Deciding between Hartnell 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.

Hartnell College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hartnell College Salinas, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Hartnell College Midsize City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hartnell College 11,273
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Hartnell College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hartnell College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hartnell College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Hartnell College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hartnell College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hartnell College $1,404
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hartnell College $10,374
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Hartnell College $28,953
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Hartnell College $5,246
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hartnell College $6,263
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hartnell College 94%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hartnell College 22:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hartnell College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (50%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Business (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
  • Hartnell College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hartnell College $36,300
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hartnell College 27%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hartnell College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hartnell College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hartnell College 53%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Hartnell College 47%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hartnell College Medium
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Hartnell College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Hartnell College 20%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Hartnell College 5%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Hartnell College 2%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hartnell College 65%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Hartnell College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hartnell College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hartnell College 2%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Hartnell College 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hartnell College 5%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hartnell College 97%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hartnell College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hartnell College in Salinas, 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 Hartnell College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 11,273 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hartnell College 22:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Hartnell College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than SMC ($5,246 vs. $5,685).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 10.5% lower than at Hartnell College ($25,908 vs. $28,953).
  • Hartnell College is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $248 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at SMC than at Hartnell College (about $334 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,374.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Santa Monica College (94% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 13.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,263 vs. $5,540).

Hartnell College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Hartnell College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 $2,700 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 27%)

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.