SMC vs. Taft College

Deciding between Santa Monica College and Taft 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Taft College Taft, CA
  • Setting
  • SMC Small City
  • Taft College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 23,453
  • Taft College 4,464
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • Taft College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • Taft College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • Taft College -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Taft College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • Taft College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $1,156
  • Taft College $1,108
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $10,708
  • Taft College $10,852
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $25,908
  • Taft College $8,095
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $5,685
  • Taft College $5,025
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $5,540
  • Taft College $9,502
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 64%
  • Taft College 90%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 27:1
  • Taft College 28:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Taft College
    • Social Sciences (34%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Business (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • Taft College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $39,000
  • Taft College $39,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 45%
  • Taft College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $6,500
  • Taft College N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $67
  • Taft College N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 45%
  • Taft College 50%
  • % Women
  • SMC 55%
  • Taft College 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Very High
  • Taft College High
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • Taft College No
  • % White
  • SMC 26%
  • Taft College 30%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 10%
  • Taft College 3%
  • % Black
  • SMC 9%
  • Taft College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 38%
  • Taft College 55%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • Taft College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • Taft College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 4%
  • Taft College 3%
  • % International
  • SMC 11%
  • Taft College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 1%
  • Taft College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 78%
  • Taft College 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 0%
  • Taft College 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Taft College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 4,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Taft College is in Taft, CA (Distant Town setting).
  • Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Taft College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Taft College 28:1.

SMC vs. Taft College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Taft 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 Taft College than SMC ($5,025 vs. $5,685).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Taft College are 68.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($8,095 vs. $25,908).
  • Santa Monica College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Taft College (about $48 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,108.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Taft College than at Santa Monica College (about $144 more per year; $10,852.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Taft College than at Santa Monica College (90% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Taft College students is 71.5% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($9,502 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Taft College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. Taft College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Taft 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 Taft College earn a median of about $600 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,600 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.