IVC vs. SMC

Deciding between Imperial Valley 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.

Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IVC Imperial, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • IVC Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IVC 8,873
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • IVC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IVC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IVC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • IVC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IVC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IVC $1,148
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IVC $8,852
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • IVC $9,153
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • IVC $1,890
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IVC $9,933
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IVC 91%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IVC 31:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IVC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IVC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IVC $28,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IVC -
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IVC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IVC N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IVC 46%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • IVC 54%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IVC Extremely Low
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • IVC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • IVC 3%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • IVC 0%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • IVC 1%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • IVC 91%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • IVC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IVC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IVC 0%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • IVC 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IVC 5%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IVC 95%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IVC 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Imperial Valley College in Imperial, 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 IVC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 8,873 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Imperial Valley College is located in Imperial, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Imperial Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Imperial Valley College 31:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

IVC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IVC 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 Imperial Valley College than SMC ($1,890 vs. $5,685).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Imperial Valley College are 64.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($9,153 vs. $25,908).
  • Santa Monica College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IVC (about $8 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,148.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21% higher at SMC than at Imperial Valley College (about $1,856 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,852.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Imperial Valley College than at Santa Monica College (91% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Imperial Valley College students is 79.3% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($9,933 vs. $5,540).

IVC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IVC 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 IVC.

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

IVC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IVC 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 $10,200 more per year than IVC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $28,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.