SMC vs. San Bernardino Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than San Bernardino Valley College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 14,055 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); San Bernardino Valley College is in San Bernardino, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Bernardino Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; San Bernardino Valley College 25:1.

SMC vs. San Bernardino Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or San Bernardino Valley 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 San Bernardino Valley College ($5,685 vs. $19,091).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Bernardino Valley College are 22.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($20,000 vs. $25,908).
• San Bernardino Valley College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $40 more per year; $1,196.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.3% higher at San Bernardino Valley College than at Santa Monica College (about $3,674 more per year; $14,382.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Bernardino Valley College than at Santa Monica College (72% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 48.3% larger than aid received by San Bernardino Valley College students ($5,540 vs. $3,735).

SMC vs. San Bernardino Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or San Bernardino Valley 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 San Bernardino Valley 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; San Bernardino Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027; San Bernardino Valley College Aug 29, 2027.

SMC vs. San Bernardino Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and San Bernardino Valley 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 $7,100 more per year than San Bernardino Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Bernardino Valley College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 28%)

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.