Irvine Valley College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Irvine Valley College in Irvine, 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 Irvine Valley College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 13,018 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Irvine 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: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Santa Monica College than Irvine Valley College ($5,685 vs. $5,821).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Irvine Valley College are 0.5% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,769 vs. $25,908).
• Irvine Valley College and SMC have the same published in-state tuition ($1,156.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,152 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Monica College than at Irvine Valley College (64% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 30.9% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,254 vs. $5,540).

Irvine Valley College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($6,000 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($62 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Irvine Valley College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 44%)

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.