SMC vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

SMC vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College ($5,685 vs. $8,669).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Las Positas College are 10.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,076 vs. $25,908).
• Las Positas College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $12 more per year; $1,168.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at SMC than at Las Positas College (about $900 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Las Positas College than at Santa Monica College (71% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 44.3% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($5,540 vs. $3,839).

SMC vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027; Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

SMC vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Las Positas College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 41%)

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.