SMC vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SMC vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Solano 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 Solano College ($5,685 vs. $7,102).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Solano Community College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• Solano Community College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $16 more per year; $1,172.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at SMC than at Solano Community College (about $896 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 21% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($5,540 vs. $4,579).

SMC vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Solano 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 Solano Community College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,100 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $3,303 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($6,500 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($67 vs. $101).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 27%)

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.