SMC vs. SCC

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Santiago Canyon 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
Santiago Canyon College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • SCC Orange, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • SCC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • SCC 11,897
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • SCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • SCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • SCC -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • SCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • SCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • SCC $1,164
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • SCC $9,612
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • SCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • SCC $6,573
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • SCC $6,580
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • SCC 74%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • SCC 34:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • SCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (63%)
    • Engineering Technology (10%)
    • Construction Trades (9%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • SCC 64%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • SCC 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • SCC High
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • SCC No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • SCC 36%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • SCC 7%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • SCC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • SCC 47%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • SCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • SCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • SCC 4%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • SCC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • SCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • SCC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • SCC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 11,897 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

SMC vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or SCC? 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 SCC ($5,685 vs. $6,573).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santiago Canyon College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Santiago Canyon College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $8 more per year; $1,164.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at SMC than at Santiago Canyon College (about $1,096 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,612.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santiago Canyon College than at Santa Monica College (74% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santiago Canyon College students is 18.8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,580 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and SCC? 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).

  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCC 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.