Mendocino College vs. SMC

Mendocino College and Santa Monica College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Mendocino College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $9,798 at Mendocino College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Mendocino College $29,400 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Mendocino College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Mendocino College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Mendocino College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $4,113 less
Mendocino College$9,798
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $267 less
Mendocino College$1,423
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
Mendocino College $705 less
Mendocino College$10,003
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Mendocino College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$9,600
Mendocino College$29,400
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Mendocino College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Mendocino College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Mendocino College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Mendocino College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Mendocino College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Mendocino College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Mendocino College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Mendocino College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Mendocino College $1,423
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Mendocino College $10,003
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Mendocino College $16,580
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Mendocino College $9,798
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Mendocino College $7,180
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Mendocino College 84%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Mendocino College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Mendocino College $29,400
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Mendocino College 30%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Mendocino College $13,000
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Mendocino College $134
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Mendocino College 16:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Mendocino College
    • Business (21%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Mendocino College Ukiah, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Mendocino College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mendocino College 4,225
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Mendocino College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Mendocino College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Santa Monica College is larger than Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 36% lower than at Santa Monica College ($16,580 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at SMC than at Mendocino College (about $705 more per year; $10,708 vs. $10,003).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Santa Monica College (84% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 29.6% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,180 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Mendocino College and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($6,500 vs. $13,000).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($67 vs. $134).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 30%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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