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Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College San Diego Miramar College West Los Angeles College SBCC Grossmont College Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College Southwestern College GCC| San Diego Mesa College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego Mesa College | SMC | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 18,076 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdmesa.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego Mesa College | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,104 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,400 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,786 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,506 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,656 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 64% |
Admission |
San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 24:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
San Diego Mesa College | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 41% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $4,500 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $46 | $67 |
Diversity |
San Diego Mesa College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 33% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 35% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
San Diego Mesa College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 0% | ||
Campus |
San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa College based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 18,076 students)
San Diego Mesa College vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or SMC?
- San Diego Mesa 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 22.3% higher at SMC than San Diego Mesa College ($9,048.00 vs. $7,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than San Diego Mesa College ($6,656 vs. $8,506)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 53.9% lower than costs at San Diego Mesa College ($11,556 vs. $17,786)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Santa Monica College than San Diego Mesa College (64% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 43.1% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($6,656 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Mesa College or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or San Diego Mesa College .
San Diego Mesa College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa College.
- Graduates from San Diego Mesa College earn on average $2,600 more per year than SMC graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $39,000)
- San Diego Mesa College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMC graduates. ($4,500 vs. $6,500)
- San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa 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/