SMC vs. West Los Angeles College

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA with West Los Angeles College in Culver City, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Monica College is larger than West Los Angeles College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 9,255 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SMC vs. West Los Angeles College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or West Los Angeles 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 West Los Angeles College ($5,685 vs. $11,164).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Los Angeles College are 1.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,407 vs. $25,908).
• West Los Angeles College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $82 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at SMC than at West Los Angeles College (about $136 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Los Angeles College than at Santa Monica College (83% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Los Angeles College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,857 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. West Los Angeles College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or West Los Angeles 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 West Los Angeles 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; West Los Angeles College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027; West Los Angeles College Jun 1, 2027.

SMC vs. West Los Angeles College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and West Los Angeles 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 $3,300 more per year than West Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than West Los Angeles College graduates ($6,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than West Los Angeles College graduates ($67 vs. $98).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Los Angeles College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 26%)

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.