Cuyamaca College vs. SMC

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

Cuyamaca College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $7,752 at Cuyamaca College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cuyamaca College $31,900 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Cuyamaca College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Cuyamaca College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cuyamaca College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $2,067 less
Cuyamaca College$7,752
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $190 less
Cuyamaca College$1,346
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
SMC $606 less
Cuyamaca College$11,314
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Cuyamaca College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$7,100
Cuyamaca College$31,900
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cuyamaca College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Cuyamaca College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cuyamaca College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cuyamaca College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cuyamaca College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cuyamaca College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Cuyamaca College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Cuyamaca College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cuyamaca College $1,346
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cuyamaca College $11,314
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Cuyamaca College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Cuyamaca College $7,752
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Cuyamaca College $8,246
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cuyamaca College 81%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cuyamaca College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cuyamaca College $31,900
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cuyamaca College 36%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cuyamaca College $4,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Cuyamaca College $46
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cuyamaca College 28:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cuyamaca College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (16%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Cuyamaca College El Cajon, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Cuyamaca College Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cuyamaca College 8,905
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Cuyamaca College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cuyamaca College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 8,905 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Santa Monica College (about $606 more per year; $11,314 vs. $10,708).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 48.8% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($8,246 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($46 vs. $67).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 36%).

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

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