San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare San Joaquin Valley College Visalia in Visalia, 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 2,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is located in Visalia, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Joaquin Valley College Visalia 28:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ($5,685 vs. $27,525).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia are 66.2% lower than at Santa Monica College ($8,764 vs. $25,908).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is 1,336.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $15,450 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.1% higher at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia than at Santa Monica College (about $5,898 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 2% larger than aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Visalia students ($5,540 vs. $5,430).

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia.

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

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 $6,900 more per year than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $9,300 lower median loan debt than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($6,500 vs. $15,800).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($67 vs. $163).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 29%)

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.