SMC vs. Shoreline Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Shoreline Community College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 4,477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Shoreline Community College is in Shoreline, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shoreline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Shoreline Community College 13:1.

SMC vs. Shoreline Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College ($5,685 vs. $10,535).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shoreline Community College are 33.2% lower than at Santa Monica College ($17,310 vs. $25,908).
• Shoreline Community College is 342.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $3,959 more per year; $5,115.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.5% higher at SMC than at Shoreline Community College (about $2,803 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $7,905.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Monica College than at Shoreline Community College (64% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Shoreline Community College students is 8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,981 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Shoreline Community College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Shoreline Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Shoreline Community College graduates ($6,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shoreline Community College graduates ($67 vs. $124).
• More Shoreline Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.