Harbor College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, 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 Harbor College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harbor College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harbor 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 Harbor College ($5,685 vs. $14,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Harbor College are 1.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,407 vs. $25,908).
• Los Angeles Harbor College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $82 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at SMC than at Los Angeles Harbor College (about $140 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,568.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Harbor College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Harbor College students is 22.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,765 vs. $5,540).

Harbor College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Harbor College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harbor 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 $2,300 more per year than Harbor College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Harbor College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Harbor College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harbor College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 42%)

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.