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Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College GCC DVC Moorpark College Irvine Valley College| Imperial Valley College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
IVC | SMC | ||
| Location | Imperial, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,111 | 23,164 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | imperial.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IVC | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,104 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,968 | $9,264 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,471 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $2,730 | $5,636 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,323 | $5,515 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 63% |
Admission |
IVC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 30, 2026 |
Academics |
IVC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 33:1 | 27:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
IVC | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $28,800 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | - | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | N/A | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | N/A | $67 |
Diversity |
IVC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Extremely Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 3% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 91% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
IVC | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 94% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
IVC | SMC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than IVC based on total student enrollment (23,164 students vs. 8,111 students)
IVC vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IVC or SMC?
- Imperial Valley College and SMC cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,104.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16.3% higher at SMC than Imperial Valley College ($9,264.00 vs. $7,968.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Imperial Valley College than SMC ($2,730 vs. $5,636)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Imperial Valley College are 54.7% lower than costs at Santa Monica College ($7,471 vs. $11,556)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Imperial Valley College than Santa Monica College (96% vs. 63%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Imperial Valley College students is 69% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($9,323 vs. $5,515)
Which college is harder to get into, IVC or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or IVC .
IVC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IVC or SMC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMC and IVC.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $10,200 more per year than IVC graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $28,800)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/