SMC vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA with Berkeley City College in Berkeley, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Monica College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

SMC vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Berkeley City College? 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 Berkeley City College ($5,685 vs. $12,695).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berkeley City College are 11.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,820 vs. $25,908).
• Berkeley City College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $102 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at SMC than at Berkeley City College (about $810 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Berkeley City College than at Santa Monica College (74% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Berkeley City College students ($5,540 vs. $5,422).

SMC vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or Berkeley City College? 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 Berkeley City College and SMC.

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

SMC vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Berkeley City College? 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 $800 more per year than Berkeley City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berkeley City College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 35%)

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.