San Diego Mesa College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, 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 San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College ($5,685 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 17.1% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,908 vs. $31,243).
• Santa Monica College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $10 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at SMC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $706 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Santa Monica College (79% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 49% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($8,252 vs. $5,540).

San Diego Mesa College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College.

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.