SMC vs. Coalinga College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Coalinga College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 4,175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SMC vs. Coalinga College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Coalinga 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 Coalinga College ($5,685 vs. $11,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coalinga College are 68.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($8,122 vs. $25,908).
• Coalinga College is 19.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $228 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Coalinga College than at Santa Monica College (about $246 more per year; $10,954.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coalinga College than at Santa Monica College (95% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coalinga College students is 47.2% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($8,154 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Coalinga College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or Coalinga 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 Coalinga 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; Coalinga College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027; Coalinga College Jul 15, 2027.

SMC vs. Coalinga College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Coalinga 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 $7,200 more per year than Coalinga College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Coalinga College graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coalinga College graduates ($67 vs. $72).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coalinga College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 31%)

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.