SMC vs. SRJC

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Santa Rosa Junior 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
Santa Rosa Junior College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • SRJC Santa Rosa, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • SRJC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • SRJC 17,854
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • SRJC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • SRJC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • SRJC -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • SRJC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • SRJC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • SRJC $1,318
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • SRJC $11,308
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • SRJC $21,676
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • SRJC $8,690
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • SRJC $5,485
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • SRJC 82%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • SRJC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • SRJC
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (30%)
    • Health Professions (28%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (6%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • SRJC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $39,000
  • SRJC $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 45%
  • SRJC 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $6,500
  • SRJC $8,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $67
  • SRJC $82

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • SRJC 44%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • SRJC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • SRJC High
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • SRJC No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • SRJC 55%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • SRJC 4%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • SRJC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • SRJC 31%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • SRJC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • SRJC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • SRJC 5%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • SRJC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • SRJC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • SRJC 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • SRJC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than SRJC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 17,854 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Santa Rosa Junior College is in Santa Rosa, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Santa Rosa Junior College 20:1.

SMC vs. SRJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or SRJC? 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 SRJC ($5,685 vs. $8,690).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Rosa Junior College are 16.3% lower than at Santa Monica College ($21,676 vs. $25,908).
  • Santa Rosa Junior College is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $162 more per year; $1,318.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at SRJC than at Santa Monica College (about $600 more per year; $11,308.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Rosa Junior College than at Santa Monica College (82% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 1% larger than aid received by Santa Rosa Junior College students ($5,540 vs. $5,485).

SMC vs. SRJC Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. SRJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and SRJC? 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 Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than SRJC graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,000).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SRJC graduates ($67 vs. $82).
  • More SRJC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 45%)

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.