SMC vs. Shasta College

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Shasta 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Shasta College Redding, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • Shasta College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • Shasta College 9,073
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • Shasta College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • Shasta College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • Shasta College -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Shasta College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • Shasta College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • Shasta College $1,197
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • Shasta College $8,853
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • Shasta College $15,844
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • Shasta College $7,289
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • Shasta College $7,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • Shasta College 89%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • Shasta College 28:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Shasta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Business (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • Shasta College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $39,000
  • Shasta College $32,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 45%
  • Shasta College 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $6,500
  • Shasta College $8,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $67
  • Shasta College $92

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • Shasta College 43%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • Shasta College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • Shasta College Medium
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • Shasta College No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • Shasta College 68%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • Shasta College 3%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • Shasta College 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • Shasta College 15%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • Shasta College 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • Shasta College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • Shasta College 5%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • Shasta College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • Shasta College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • Shasta College 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • Shasta College 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Shasta College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,073 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Shasta College is in Redding, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shasta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Shasta College 28:1.

SMC vs. Shasta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Shasta 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 Shasta College ($5,685 vs. $7,289).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shasta College are 38.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($15,844 vs. $25,908).
  • Shasta College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $41 more per year; $1,197.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21% higher at SMC than at Shasta College (about $1,855 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,853.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shasta College than at Santa Monica College (89% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shasta College students is 35.9% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,528 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Shasta College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Shasta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Shasta 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 $6,900 more per year than Shasta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $2,466 lower median loan debt than Shasta College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,966).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shasta College graduates ($67 vs. $92).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shasta College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 36%)

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.