SMC vs. FLC

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Folsom Lake 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • FLC Folsom, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • FLC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • FLC 11,098
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • FLC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • FLC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • FLC -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • FLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • FLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • FLC $1,288
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • FLC $12,616
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • FLC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • FLC $8,982
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • FLC $3,570
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • FLC 84%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • FLC 29:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • FLC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Work and Family Studies (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • FLC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $39,000
  • FLC N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 45%
  • FLC 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $6,500
  • FLC $7,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $67
  • FLC $80

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • FLC 44%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • FLC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • FLC High
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • FLC No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • FLC 59%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • FLC 9%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • FLC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • FLC 18%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • FLC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • FLC 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • FLC 6%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • FLC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • FLC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • FLC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • FLC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 11,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Folsom Lake College is in Folsom, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Folsom Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Folsom Lake College 29:1.

SMC vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or FLC? 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 FLC ($5,685 vs. $8,982).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Folsom Lake College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Folsom Lake College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $132 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at FLC than at Santa Monica College (about $1,908 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Folsom Lake College than at Santa Monica College (84% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 55.2% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($5,540 vs. $3,570).

SMC vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or FLC? 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 FLC 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; FLC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

SMC vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and FLC? 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than FLC graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,750).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FLC graduates ($67 vs. $80).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FLC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 33%)

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.