RHC vs. SMC

Deciding between Rio Hondo 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.

Santa Monica College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RHC Whittier, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • RHC Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • RHC 17,441
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • RHC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RHC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RHC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • RHC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RHC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RHC $1,388
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RHC $9,884
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • RHC $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • RHC $16,449
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RHC $5,049
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RHC 85%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RHC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • RHC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RHC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • RHC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • RHC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • RHC
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • RHC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RHC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • RHC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • RHC
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • RHC
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • RHC
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RHC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • RHC Aug 20, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RHC 31:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RHC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (21%)
    • Work and Family Studies (19%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • 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
  • RHC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RHC $38,500
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RHC 34%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RHC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RHC N/A
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RHC 59%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • RHC 41%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RHC Low
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • RHC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • RHC 8%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • RHC 7%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • RHC 2%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • RHC 77%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • RHC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RHC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RHC 1%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • RHC 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RHC 5%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RHC 100%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RHC 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rio Hondo College in Whittier, 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 RHC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 17,441 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Hondo College 31:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

RHC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC 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 RHC ($5,685 vs. $16,449).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Rio Hondo College is 20.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $232 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at SMC than at Rio Hondo College (about $824 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($5,540 vs. $5,049).

RHC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RHC 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 RHC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RHC - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

RHC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC 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 $500 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 34%)

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.