SMC vs. West Shore Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI with West Shore Community College in Scottville, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Michigan College is larger than West Shore Community College based on total student enrollment (2,000 students vs. 1,120 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Michigan College is located in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting); West Shore Community College is in Scottville, MI (Distant Rural setting).
• Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Shore Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Michigan College 17:1; West Shore Community College 12:1.

SMC vs. West Shore Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or West Shore Community 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 West Shore Community College than SMC ($3,927 vs. $6,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Shore Community College are 13.5% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($9,360 vs. $10,825).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Shore Community College (about $1,444 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $6,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at West Shore Community College than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $426 more per year; $8,820.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at West Shore Community College (94% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 15.9% larger than aid received by West Shore Community College students ($8,166 vs. $7,048).

SMC vs. West Shore Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or West Shore Community 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 Shore Community 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 Shore Community College - Open admission.

SMC vs. West Shore Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and West Shore Community 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 Shore Community College earn a median of about $400 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,000 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have a $2,391 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($9,609 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($99 vs. $124).
• More West Shore Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 28%)

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.