SMC vs. Skyline College

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Skyline 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
Skyline College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Skyline College San Bruno, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • Skyline College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • Skyline College 9,572
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • Skyline College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • Skyline College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • Skyline College -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Skyline College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • Skyline College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • Skyline College $1,272
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • Skyline College $9,956
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • Skyline College $31,288
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • Skyline College $6,639
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • Skyline College $4,341
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • Skyline College 79%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • Skyline College 29:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Skyline College
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (24%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • Skyline College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $39,000
  • Skyline College $43,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 45%
  • Skyline College 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $6,500
  • Skyline College N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $67
  • Skyline College N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • Skyline College 45%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • Skyline College 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • Skyline College Very High
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • Skyline College No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • Skyline College 19%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • Skyline College 38%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • Skyline College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • Skyline College 29%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • Skyline College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • Skyline College 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • Skyline College 5%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • Skyline College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • Skyline College 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • Skyline College 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • Skyline College 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Skyline College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Skyline College is in San Bruno, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skyline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Skyline College 29:1.

SMC vs. Skyline College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Skyline 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 Skyline College ($5,685 vs. $6,639).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 17.2% lower than at Skyline College ($25,908 vs. $31,288).
  • Skyline College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $116 more per year; $1,272.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at SMC than at Skyline College (about $752 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,956.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Skyline College than at Santa Monica College (79% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 27.6% larger than aid received by Skyline College students ($5,540 vs. $4,341).

SMC vs. Skyline College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Skyline College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Skyline 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 Skyline College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More Skyline College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.