SMC vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 20,986 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

SMC vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College ($5,685 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 7.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,897 vs. $25,908).
• Southwestern College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $188 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at SMC than at Southwestern College (about $68 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Santa Monica College (86% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 23.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,821 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Southwestern 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 $4,900 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern 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.