MJC vs. SMC

Deciding between Modesto Junior 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.

Modesto Junior College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MJC Modesto, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • MJC Midsize City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MJC 18,258
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • MJC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MJC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MJC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • MJC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MJC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MJC $1,282
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MJC $9,264
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • MJC $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • MJC $5,605
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MJC $5,984
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MJC 73%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MJC 32:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MJC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Agriculture (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
  • MJC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MJC $34,000
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MJC -
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MJC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MJC N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MJC 40%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • MJC 60%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MJC High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • MJC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • MJC 38%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • MJC 6%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • MJC 4%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • MJC 47%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • MJC 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MJC 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MJC 1%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • MJC 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MJC 2%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MJC 98%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MJC 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Modesto Junior College in Modesto, 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 MJC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 18,258 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Modesto Junior College is located in Modesto, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Modesto Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Modesto Junior College 32:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

MJC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MJC 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 Modesto Junior College than SMC ($5,605 vs. $5,685).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Modesto Junior College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Modesto Junior College is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $126 more per year; $1,282.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.6% higher at SMC than at Modesto Junior College (about $1,444 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Modesto Junior College than at Santa Monica College (73% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Modesto Junior College students is 8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,984 vs. $5,540).

MJC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MJC 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 MJC.

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

MJC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MJC 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 $5,000 more per year than MJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,000), 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.