San Jose City College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare San Jose City College in San Jose, 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 Jose City College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 8,609 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Jose City College is located in San Jose, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• San Jose City 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 Jose City College 26:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

San Jose City College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Jose City 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 Jose City College ($5,685 vs. $19,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose City College are 12.5% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,658 vs. $25,908).
• San Jose City College is 18.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $210 more per year; $1,366.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.3% higher at San Jose City College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,214 more per year; $11,922.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose City College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Jose City College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,712 vs. $5,540).

San Jose City College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Jose City 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 Jose City College.

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

San Jose City College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Jose City 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 Santa Monica College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than San Jose City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($5,250 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($54 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose City College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 36%)

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.