Monterey Peninsula College vs. SMC

Deciding between Monterey Peninsula 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.

Monterey Peninsula College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Monterey Peninsula College Monterey, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Monterey Peninsula College Midsize Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Monterey Peninsula College 7,173
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Monterey Peninsula College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Monterey Peninsula College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Monterey Peninsula College $1,188
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Monterey Peninsula College $10,572
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Monterey Peninsula College $35,118
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Monterey Peninsula College $14,483
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Monterey Peninsula College $5,088
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Monterey Peninsula College 85%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Monterey Peninsula College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Monterey Peninsula College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Monterey Peninsula College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Monterey Peninsula College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Monterey Peninsula College 23:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Monterey Peninsula College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Monterey Peninsula College $38,900
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Monterey Peninsula College 31%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Monterey Peninsula College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Monterey Peninsula College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Monterey Peninsula College 47%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Monterey Peninsula College 53%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Monterey Peninsula College High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Monterey Peninsula College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Monterey Peninsula College 40%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Monterey Peninsula College 8%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Monterey Peninsula College 4%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Monterey Peninsula College 37%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Monterey Peninsula College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Monterey Peninsula College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Monterey Peninsula College 5%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Monterey Peninsula College 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Monterey Peninsula College 5%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Monterey Peninsula College 95%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Monterey Peninsula College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, 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 Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 7,173 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Monterey Peninsula College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Monterey Peninsula College 23:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Monterey Peninsula College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College ($5,685 vs. $14,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 26.2% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($25,908 vs. $35,118).
  • Monterey Peninsula College is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $32 more per year; $1,188.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at SMC than at Monterey Peninsula College (about $136 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,572.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Monterey Peninsula College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($5,540 vs. $5,088).

Monterey Peninsula College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Monterey Peninsula College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Monterey Peninsula College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Monterey Peninsula 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 $100 more per year than Monterey Peninsula College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 31%)

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.