Sac City vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacramento City College in Sacramento, 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 Sac City based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 19,920 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Sac City vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sac City 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 Sac City ($5,685 vs. $8,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sacramento City College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• Sacramento City College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $132 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at Sac City than at Santa Monica College (about $1,908 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacramento City College than at Santa Monica College (90% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacramento City College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,192 vs. $5,540).

Sac City vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sac City 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 Sac City.

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

Sac City vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sac City 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 of Sacramento City College and SMC have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $39,000), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Sac City graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sac City graduates ($67 vs. $108).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sac City students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 29%)

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.