Grossmont College vs. SMC

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

Grossmont College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $8,351 at Grossmont College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Grossmont College $38,200 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Grossmont College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Grossmont College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Grossmont College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $2,666 less
Grossmont College$8,351
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $176 less
Grossmont College$1,332
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
Grossmont College $80 less
Grossmont College$10,628
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Grossmont College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$800
Grossmont College$38,200
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Grossmont College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Grossmont College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Grossmont College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Grossmont College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grossmont College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grossmont College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Grossmont College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Grossmont College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Grossmont College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Grossmont College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Grossmont College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Grossmont College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Grossmont College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Grossmont College Jun 1, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Grossmont College $1,332
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Grossmont College $10,628
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Grossmont College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Grossmont College $8,351
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Grossmont College $6,370
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Grossmont College 67%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Grossmont College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Grossmont College $38,200
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Grossmont College 43%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Grossmont College $4,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Grossmont College $46
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Grossmont College 24:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Grossmont College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (4%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Grossmont College El Cajon, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Grossmont College Large Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Grossmont College 14,440
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Grossmont College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Grossmont College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Grossmont 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 Grossmont College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 14,440 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grossmont College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Grossmont College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grossmont College 24:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grossmont College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at SMC than at Grossmont College (about $80 more per year; $10,708 vs. $10,628).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grossmont College than at Santa Monica College (67% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grossmont College students is 15% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,370 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Grossmont College and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grossmont College Jun 1, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grossmont College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
  • Among borrowers, Grossmont 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 Grossmont College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 43%).

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

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