Mission College vs. SMC

Deciding between Mission 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.

Mission College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mission College Santa Clara, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Mission College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mission College 6,909
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Mission College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mission College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mission College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Mission College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mission College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mission College $1,438
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mission College $12,500
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Mission College $35,361
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Mission College $7,646
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mission College $4,820
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mission College 78%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mission College 26:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mission College
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • General Studies (9%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mission College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mission College $42,000
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mission College 49%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mission College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mission College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mission College 45%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Mission College 55%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mission College High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Mission College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Mission College 17%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Mission College 44%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Mission College 4%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mission College 27%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Mission College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mission College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mission College 4%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Mission College 3%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mission College 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mission College 96%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mission College 1%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mission College in Santa Clara, 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 Mission College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mission College is located in Santa Clara, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Mission College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mission College 26:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Mission College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mission 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 Mission College ($5,685 vs. $7,646).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 26.7% lower than at Mission College ($25,908 vs. $35,361).
  • Mission College is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $282 more per year; $1,438.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at Mission College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,792 more per year; $12,500.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mission College than at Santa Monica College (78% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 14.9% larger than aid received by Mission College students ($5,540 vs. $4,820).

Mission College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Mission College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mission 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 Mission College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 45%)

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.