CCC vs. SMC

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

Contra Costa College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $11,384 at CCC.
  • Earnings 10 years out: CCC $37,000 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Contra Costa College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
CCC-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
CCC-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $5,699 less
CCC$11,384
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $156 less
CCC$1,312
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
CCC $388 less
CCC$10,320
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
CCC-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$2,000
CCC$37,000
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • CCC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • CCC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • CCC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • CCC
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • CCC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • CCC
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • CCC $1,312
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • CCC $10,320
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • CCC $23,238
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • CCC $11,384
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • CCC $5,652
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • CCC 84%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • CCC -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • CCC $37,000
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • CCC 28%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • CCC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • CCC N/A
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • CCC 22:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • CCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • CCC San Pablo, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • CCC Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CCC 6,538
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • CCC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • CCC
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Contra Costa College in San Pablo, 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 CCC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,538 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Contra Costa College is located in San Pablo, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Contra Costa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Contra Costa College 22:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Contra Costa College are 10.3% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,238 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at SMC than at Contra Costa College (about $388 more per year; $10,708 vs. $10,320).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Contra Costa College than at Santa Monica College (84% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Contra Costa College students is 2% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,652 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCC students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 28%).

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

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