Merced College vs. SMC

Deciding between Merced 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.

Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Merced College Merced, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Merced College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Merced College 12,472
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Merced College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Merced College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Merced College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Merced College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Merced College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Merced College $1,200
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Merced College $8,520
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Merced College $19,432
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Merced College $6,854
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Merced College $7,480
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Merced College 88%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Merced College 28:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Merced College
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Merced College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Merced College $30,300
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Merced College -
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Merced College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Merced College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Merced College 41%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Merced College 59%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Merced College High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Merced College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Merced College 22%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Merced College 10%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Merced College 3%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Merced College 59%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Merced College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Merced College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Merced College 3%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Merced College 1%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Merced College 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Merced College 98%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Merced College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, 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 Merced College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Merced College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced 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 Merced College ($5,685 vs. $6,854).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 25% lower than at Santa Monica College ($19,432 vs. $25,908).
  • Merced College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $44 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.7% higher at SMC than at Merced College (about $2,188 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,520.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Santa Monica College (88% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 35% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,480 vs. $5,540).

Merced College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Merced College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced 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 $8,700 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.