Fullerton College vs. SMC

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

Fullerton College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $8,306 at Fullerton College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Fullerton College $37,300 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Fullerton College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Fullerton College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Fullerton College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $2,621 less
Fullerton College$8,306
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
Fullerton College $6 less
Fullerton College$1,150
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
SMC $1,671 less
Fullerton College$12,379
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Fullerton College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$1,700
Fullerton College$37,300
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Fullerton College and SMC with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Fullerton College Check my chances at SMC
  • Applied
  • Fullerton College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Fullerton College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Fullerton College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Fullerton College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Fullerton College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Fullerton College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Fullerton College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Fullerton College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Fullerton College $1,150
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Fullerton College $12,379
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Fullerton College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Fullerton College $8,306
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Fullerton College $5,301
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Fullerton College 87%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Fullerton College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Fullerton College $37,300
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Fullerton College 39%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Fullerton College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Fullerton College N/A
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Fullerton College 25:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Fullerton College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Fullerton College Midsize City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fullerton College 19,521
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Fullerton College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Fullerton College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Fullerton College in Fullerton, 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 Fullerton College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 19,521 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.6% higher at Fullerton College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,671 more per year; $12,379 vs. $10,708).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Santa Monica College (87% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 4.5% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($5,540 vs. $5,301).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Fullerton College 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 Fullerton College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 39%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Fullerton College
Santa Monica College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges