SMC vs. Norco College

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Norco 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
Norco College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Norco College Norco, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • Norco College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • Norco College 11,351
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • Norco College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • Norco College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • Norco College -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Norco College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • Norco College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • Norco College $1,428
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • Norco College $12,498
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • Norco College $26,740
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • Norco College $8,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • Norco College $5,343
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • Norco College 81%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • Norco College 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%)
  • Norco College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (49%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • Norco College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $39,000
  • Norco College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 45%
  • Norco College 41%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $6,500
  • Norco College $8,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $67
  • Norco College $82

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • Norco College 46%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • Norco College 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • Norco College High
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • Norco College No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • Norco College 25%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • Norco College 8%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • Norco College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • Norco College 57%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • Norco College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • Norco College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • Norco College 3%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • Norco College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • Norco College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • Norco College 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • Norco College 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Norco College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 11,351 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SMC vs. Norco College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Norco 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 Norco College ($5,685 vs. $8,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 3.1% lower than at Norco College ($25,908 vs. $26,740).
  • Norco College is 23.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $272 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at Norco College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,790 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Norco College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Norco College students ($5,540 vs. $5,343).

SMC vs. Norco College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Norco College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Norco 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Norco College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,000).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Norco College graduates ($67 vs. $82).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Norco 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.