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Pasadena City College ARC ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College FLC GCC DVC| Santa Monica College | Sierra College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
| Location | Santa Monica, CA | Rocklin, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 22,375 | 15,766 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smc.edu | sierracollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,104 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,048 | $8,496 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,556 | $7,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $6,656 | $6,270 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,650 | $5,067 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 82% |
Admission |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 30, 2025 |
Academics |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 26:1 | 23:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,000 | $36,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 32% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $6,500 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $67 | N/A |
Diversity |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 26% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 38% | 27% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 76% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 1% | ||
Campus |
SMC | Sierra College | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than Sierra College based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 15,766 students)
SMC vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SMC or Sierra College?
- Santa Monica College and Sierra College cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,104.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.5% higher at SMC than Sierra College ($9,048.00 vs. $8,496.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sierra College than SMC ($6,270 vs. $6,656)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 48.2% lower than costs at Santa Monica College ($7,800 vs. $11,556)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Sierra College than Santa Monica College (82% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sierra College students is 9% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($5,067 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, SMC or Sierra College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sierra College or SMC .
SMC vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SMC or Sierra College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sierra College and SMC.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $2,900 more per year than Sierra College graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $36,100)
- More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 32%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/