LMC vs. SMC

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

Los Medanos College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $9,860 at LMC.
  • Earnings 10 years out: LMC $40,700 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Los Medanos College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
LMC-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
LMC-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $4,175 less
LMC$9,860
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $156 less
LMC$1,312
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
LMC $388 less
LMC$10,320
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
LMC-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
LMC +$1,700
LMC$40,700
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

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

Check my chances at LMC Check my chances at SMC
  • Applied
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • LMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • LMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • LMC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • LMC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • LMC Aug 9, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • LMC $1,312
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • LMC $10,320
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • LMC $23,238
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • LMC $9,860
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • LMC $5,109
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • LMC 83%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • LMC $40,700
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • LMC 43%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • LMC N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • LMC N/A
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • LMC 23:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • LMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (37%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (11%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Business (7%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • LMC Pittsburg, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • LMC Midsize Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • LMC 8,455
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • LMC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • LMC
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, 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 LMC based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 8,455 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Los Medanos 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 Medanos College 23:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Medanos College are 10.3% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,238 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at SMC than at Los Medanos College (about $388 more per year; $10,708 vs. $10,320).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at Santa Monica College (83% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Los Medanos College students ($5,540 vs. $5,109).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both LMC and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC 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.

Change schools

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

Los Medanos College
Santa Monica College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges