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Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Southwestern College Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College GCC San Diego Mesa College Grossmont College| San Diego City College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 12,144 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdcity.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,104 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,440 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,789 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $6,933 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,684 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 64% |
Admission |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 30, 2025 |
Academics |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $33,200 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 30% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $4,500 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $46 | $67 |
Diversity |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 24% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 49% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 0% | ||
Campus |
San Diego City College | SMC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than San Diego City College based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 12,144 students)
San Diego City College vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego City College or SMC?
- San Diego City College and SMC cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,104.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21.6% higher at SMC than San Diego City College ($9,048.00 vs. $7,440.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than San Diego City College ($6,656 vs. $6,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 53.9% lower than costs at San Diego City College ($11,556 vs. $17,789)
- More students receive financial grant aid at San Diego City College than Santa Monica College (77% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 65.2% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($7,684 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego City College or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or San Diego City College .
San Diego City College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego City College or SMC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMC and San Diego City College.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $5,800 more per year than San Diego City College graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $33,200)
- San Diego City College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMC graduates. ($4,500 vs. $6,500)
- San Diego City College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SMC graduates. ($46 vs. $67)
- More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 30%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/