Foothill College vs. SMC

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

Foothill College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $10,805 at Foothill College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Foothill College $59,400 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Foothill College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Foothill College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Foothill College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $5,120 less
Foothill College$10,805
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $409 less
Foothill College$1,565
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
SMC $1,882 less
Foothill College$12,590
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Foothill College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
Foothill College +$20,400
Foothill College$59,400
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Foothill College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Foothill College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Foothill College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Foothill College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Foothill College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Foothill College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Foothill College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Foothill College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Foothill College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Foothill College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Foothill College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Foothill College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Foothill College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Foothill College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Foothill College $1,565
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Foothill College $12,590
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Foothill College $20,793
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Foothill College $10,805
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Foothill College $4,223
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Foothill College 67%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Foothill College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Foothill College $59,400
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Foothill College 46%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Foothill College $8,972
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Foothill College $92
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Foothill College 26:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Foothill College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Foothill College Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Foothill College 12,949
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Foothill College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Foothill College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 12,949 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 19.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($20,793 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Foothill College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,882 more per year; $12,590 vs. $10,708).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Foothill College than at Santa Monica College (67% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 31.2% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,540 vs. $4,223).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $2,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,972).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($67 vs. $92).
  • More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation (46% vs. 45%).

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

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