Cerritos College vs. SMC

Cerritos College and Santa Monica College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Cerritos College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Cerritos College. Average net price is $4,325 vs $5,685 at SMC.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cerritos College $35,000 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Cerritos College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Cerritos College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cerritos College-
SMC-
Average net price
Cerritos College $1,360 less
Cerritos College$4,325
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $208 less
Cerritos College$1,364
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
SMC $1,296 less
Cerritos College$12,004
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Cerritos College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$4,000
Cerritos College$35,000
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cerritos College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Cerritos College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cerritos College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cerritos College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cerritos College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cerritos College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Cerritos College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Cerritos College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cerritos College $1,364
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cerritos College $12,004
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Cerritos College $22,088
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Cerritos College $4,325
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Cerritos College $5,925
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cerritos College 89%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cerritos College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cerritos College $35,000
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cerritos College 35%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cerritos College $6,000
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Cerritos College $62
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cerritos College 26:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cerritos College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Cerritos College Norwalk, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Cerritos College Small City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cerritos College 21,859
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Cerritos College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cerritos College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Cerritos College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 21,859 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 14.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,088 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Cerritos College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,296 more per year; $12,004 vs. $10,708).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Santa Monica College (89% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,925 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Cerritos College and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($6,000 vs. $6,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($62 vs. $67).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 35%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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