SMC vs. WCCCD

Deciding between Southwestern Michigan College and Wayne County Community College District? 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.

Southwestern Michigan College
Wayne County Community College District

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SMC Dowagiac, MI
  • WCCCD Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • SMC Rural Fringe
  • WCCCD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 2,000
  • WCCCD 11,887
  • Type
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • WCCCD Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • WCCCD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC -
  • WCCCD -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • WCCCD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • WCCCD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $6,417
  • WCCCD $3,112
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $8,394
  • WCCCD $4,067
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $10,825
  • WCCCD $7,618
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $6,684
  • WCCCD $7,656
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $8,166
  • WCCCD $7,617
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 94%
  • WCCCD 66%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 17:1
  • WCCCD 26:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communications Technology (3%)
  • WCCCD
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (20%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Business (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • WCCCD -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $29,600
  • WCCCD $27,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 28%
  • WCCCD 15%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $12,000
  • WCCCD $10,704
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $124
  • WCCCD $110

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 39%
  • WCCCD 40%
  • % Women
  • SMC 61%
  • WCCCD 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC Low
  • WCCCD Medium
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • WCCCD No
  • % White
  • SMC 72%
  • WCCCD 22%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 1%
  • WCCCD 1%
  • % Black
  • SMC 12%
  • WCCCD 58%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 6%
  • WCCCD 2%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 1%
  • WCCCD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • WCCCD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 5%
  • WCCCD 10%
  • % International
  • SMC 0%
  • WCCCD 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 3%
  • WCCCD 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 85%
  • WCCCD 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 14%
  • WCCCD 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI with Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne County Community College District is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (11,887 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwestern Michigan College is located in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Wayne County Community College District is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wayne County Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Michigan College 17:1; Wayne County Community College District 26:1.

SMC vs. WCCCD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or WCCCD? 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 Southwestern Michigan College than WCCCD ($6,684 vs. $7,656).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne County Community College District are 29.6% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($7,618 vs. $10,825).
  • Southwestern Michigan College is 135.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCCCD (about $4,531 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $3,333.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.4% higher at SMC than at Wayne County Community College District (about $4,327 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $4,067.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Wayne County Community College District (94% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Wayne County Community College District students ($8,166 vs. $7,617).

SMC vs. WCCCD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or WCCCD? 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 WCCCD 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; WCCCD - Open admission.

SMC vs. WCCCD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and WCCCD? 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 Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than WCCCD graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,600 vs. $27,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne County Community College District graduates have a $1,296 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($10,704 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, WCCCD graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($110 vs. $124).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCCCD students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 15%)

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.