Pierce College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 16,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College 30:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Pierce College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($5,685 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce College are 1.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,407 vs. $25,908).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College (about $136 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Pierce College than at Santa Monica College (71% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,398 vs. $5,540).

Pierce College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Pierce College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($67 vs. $108).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 33%)

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.