SMC vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; West Valley College 29:1.

SMC vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or West Valley 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 Valley College ($5,685 vs. $7,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 26.7% lower than at West Valley College ($25,908 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 28.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $334 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.1% higher at SMC than at West Valley College (about $2,006 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 15.3% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,540 vs. $4,806).

SMC vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

SMC vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 45%)

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.