Mt. SAC vs. SMC

Deciding between Mt San Antonio 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.

Mt San Antonio College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mt. SAC Walnut, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Mt. SAC Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mt. SAC 29,971
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Mt. SAC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mt. SAC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mt. SAC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Mt. SAC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mt. SAC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mt. SAC $1,364
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mt. SAC $10,464
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Mt. SAC $25,587
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Mt. SAC $8,516
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mt. SAC $6,911
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mt. SAC 76%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mt. SAC 26:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mt. SAC
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Business (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
  • Mt. SAC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mt. SAC $39,100
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mt. SAC 45%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mt. SAC $4,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mt. SAC $46
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mt. SAC 47%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Mt. SAC 53%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mt. SAC High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Mt. SAC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Mt. SAC 12%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Mt. SAC 18%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Mt. SAC 4%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mt. SAC 61%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Mt. SAC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mt. SAC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mt. SAC 3%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Mt. SAC 2%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mt. SAC 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mt. SAC 97%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mt. SAC 1%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, CA with Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mt San Antonio College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 23,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mt San Antonio College is located in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Mt San Antonio College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mt San Antonio College 26:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Mt. SAC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC ($5,685 vs. $8,516).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mt San Antonio College are 1.2% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,587 vs. $25,908).
  • Mt San Antonio College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $208 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at SMC than at Mt San Antonio College (about $244 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,464.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mt San Antonio College than at Santa Monica College (76% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 24.7% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,911 vs. $5,540).

Mt. SAC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC.

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

Mt. SAC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mt. SAC 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 Mt San Antonio College earn a median of about $100 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
  • Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($46 vs. $67).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mt. SAC students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.