Oakland Community College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, MI with Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland Community College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (15,287 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakland Community College is located in Auburn Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Oakland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakland Community College 23:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Oakland Community College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland Community 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 Oakland Community College than SMC ($3,871 vs. $6,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland Community College are 13.2% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($9,400 vs. $10,825).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 41.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakland Community College (about $2,304 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $5,560.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51% higher at SMC than at Oakland Community College (about $2,834 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $5,560.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Oakland Community College (94% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Oakland Community College students ($8,166 vs. $8,158).

Oakland Community College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakland Community 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 Oakland Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakland Community College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.

Oakland Community College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakland Community 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 Oakland Community College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakland Community College graduates have a $2,415 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($9,585 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Oakland Community College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($99 vs. $124).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland Community College students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 21%)

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.