Ohlone College vs. SMC

Deciding between Ohlone 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.

Ohlone College
Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohlone College Fremont, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Ohlone College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohlone College 9,061
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Ohlone College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohlone College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohlone College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Ohlone College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohlone College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohlone College $1,202
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohlone College $8,714
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Ohlone College $22,104
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohlone College $18,639
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohlone College $4,840
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohlone College 59%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohlone College 26:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohlone College
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Business (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
  • Ohlone College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohlone College $47,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohlone College 41%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohlone College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohlone College N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohlone College 51%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Ohlone College 49%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohlone College Very High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Ohlone College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Ohlone College 21%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Ohlone College 36%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Ohlone College 4%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohlone College 24%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Ohlone College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohlone College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohlone College 5%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Ohlone College 4%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohlone College 6%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohlone College 90%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohlone College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohlone College in Fremont, 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 Ohlone College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,061 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Ohlone College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohlone 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 Ohlone College ($5,685 vs. $18,639).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohlone College are 14.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,104 vs. $25,908).
  • Ohlone College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $46 more per year; $1,202.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at SMC than at Ohlone College (about $1,994 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,714.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Monica College than at Ohlone College (64% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Ohlone College students ($5,540 vs. $4,840).

Ohlone College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Ohlone College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohlone 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 Ohlone College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohlone College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 41%)

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.