Pierce College vs. SMC

Los Angeles Pierce College and Santa Monica College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Los Angeles Pierce College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $14,469 at Pierce College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Pierce College $39,800 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Los Angeles Pierce College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Pierce College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Pierce College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $8,784 less
Pierce College$14,469
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $82 less
Pierce College$1,238
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
Pierce College $136 less
Pierce College$10,572
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Pierce College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
Pierce College +$800
Pierce College$39,800
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

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

Check my chances at Pierce College Check my chances at SMC
  • Applied
  • Pierce College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Pierce College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Pierce College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Pierce College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pierce College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pierce College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Pierce College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Pierce College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Pierce College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Pierce College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Pierce College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Pierce College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Pierce College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Pierce College Aug 20, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Pierce College $1,238
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Pierce College $10,572
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Pierce College $25,407
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Pierce College $14,469
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Pierce College $6,398
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Pierce College 71%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Pierce College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Pierce College $39,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Pierce College 33%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Pierce College $10,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Pierce College $108
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Pierce College 30:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Pierce College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (60%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Pierce College Large City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pierce College 16,906
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Pierce College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Pierce College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 16,906 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce College are 1.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,407 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at SMC than at Los Angeles Pierce College (about $136 more per year; $10,708 vs. $10,572).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Pierce College than at Santa Monica College (71% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,398 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Pierce College and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,500).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($67 vs. $108).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 33%).

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.

Los Angeles Pierce College
Santa Monica College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges