Delta vs. SMC

Deciding between San Joaquin Delta College and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Delta Stockton, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Delta Large City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Delta 20,969
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Delta Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Delta
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Delta -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Delta Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Delta
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Delta $1,180
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Delta $9,772
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Delta $21,600
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Delta $3,293
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Delta $6,311
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Delta 58%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Delta -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Delta -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Delta Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Delta Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Delta
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Delta
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Delta -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Delta -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Delta Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Delta
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Delta
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Delta
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Delta Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Delta
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Delta 45:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Delta
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (46%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Business (8%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Delta -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Delta $34,900
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Delta 24%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Delta $7,000
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Delta $72
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Delta 40%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Delta 60%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Delta Very High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Delta No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Delta 23%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Delta 17%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Delta 9%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Delta 45%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Delta 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Delta 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Delta 5%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Delta 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Delta 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Delta 93%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Delta 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Delta No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Delta No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Delta No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Delta Yes
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Delta Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

Compare San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, 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 Delta based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 20,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • San Joaquin Delta College is located in Stockton, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • San Joaquin Delta 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 Joaquin Delta College 45:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Delta vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Delta 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 San Joaquin Delta College than SMC ($3,293 vs. $5,685).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Delta College are 16.6% lower than at Santa Monica College ($21,600 vs. $25,908).
  • San Joaquin Delta College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $24 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at SMC than at San Joaquin Delta College (about $936 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,772.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Monica College than at San Joaquin Delta College (64% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students is 13.9% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,311 vs. $5,540).

Delta vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Delta 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 Delta.

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

Delta vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Delta 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 Santa Monica College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Delta graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Delta graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,000).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Delta graduates ($67 vs. $72).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delta students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 24%)

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.