Saddleback College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, 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 Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Saddleback College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College ($5,685 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 0.5% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,769 vs. $25,908).
• Saddleback College and SMC have the same published in-state tuition ($1,156.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Saddleback College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,152 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Santa Monica College (77% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,540 vs. $4,603).

Saddleback College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

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

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

Saddleback College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $380 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($6,120 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($63 vs. $67).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.