Long Beach City College vs. SMC

Deciding between Long Beach City 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.

Long Beach City College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Long Beach City College Large City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Long Beach City College 24,985
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Long Beach City College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Long Beach City College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Long Beach City College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Long Beach City College $1,556
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Long Beach City College $12,544
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Long Beach City College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Long Beach City College $7,565
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Long Beach City College $6,299
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Long Beach City College 91%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Long Beach City College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Long Beach City College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Long Beach City College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Long Beach City College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Long Beach City College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Long Beach City College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Long Beach City College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Long Beach City College
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Long Beach City College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Long Beach City College Aug 17, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Long Beach City College 29:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Long Beach City College
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Work and Family Studies (11%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Long Beach City College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Long Beach City College $32,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Long Beach City College 24%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Long Beach City College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Long Beach City College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Long Beach City College 45%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Long Beach City College 55%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Long Beach City College High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Long Beach City College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Long Beach City College 14%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Long Beach City College 11%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Long Beach City College 12%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Long Beach City College 57%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Long Beach City College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Long Beach City College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Long Beach City College 4%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Long Beach City College 1%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Long Beach City College 0%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Long Beach City College 94%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Long Beach City College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Long Beach City College in Long Beach, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Long Beach City College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (24,985 students vs. 23,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Long Beach City College is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Long Beach City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Long Beach City College 29:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Long Beach City College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College ($5,685 vs. $7,565).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Long Beach City College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Long Beach City College is 34.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $400 more per year; $1,556.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.1% higher at Long Beach City College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,836 more per year; $12,544.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Long Beach City College than at Santa Monica College (91% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Long Beach City College students is 13.7% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,299 vs. $5,540).

Long Beach City College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Long Beach City College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Long Beach City College Aug 17, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Long Beach City College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Long Beach City 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 $6,200 more per year than Long Beach City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Long Beach City College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 24%)

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.