Monterey Peninsula College vs. SMC

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

Monterey Peninsula College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $14,483 at Monterey Peninsula College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Monterey Peninsula College $38,900 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Monterey Peninsula College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Monterey Peninsula College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Monterey Peninsula College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $8,798 less
Monterey Peninsula College$14,483
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $32 less
Monterey Peninsula College$1,188
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
Monterey Peninsula College $136 less
Monterey Peninsula College$10,572
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Monterey Peninsula College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$100
Monterey Peninsula College$38,900
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

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

Check my chances at Monterey Peninsula College Check my chances at SMC
  • Applied
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Monterey Peninsula College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Monterey Peninsula College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Monterey Peninsula College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Monterey Peninsula College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Monterey Peninsula College $1,188
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Monterey Peninsula College $10,572
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Monterey Peninsula College $35,118
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Monterey Peninsula College $14,483
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Monterey Peninsula College $5,088
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Monterey Peninsula College 85%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Monterey Peninsula College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Monterey Peninsula College $38,900
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Monterey Peninsula College 31%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Monterey Peninsula College N/A
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Monterey Peninsula College N/A
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Monterey Peninsula College 23:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Monterey Peninsula College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Monterey Peninsula College Monterey, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Monterey Peninsula College Midsize Suburban
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Monterey Peninsula College 7,173
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Monterey Peninsula College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Monterey Peninsula College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, 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 Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 7,173 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Monterey Peninsula College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Monterey Peninsula College 23:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 26.2% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($25,908 vs. $35,118).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at SMC than at Monterey Peninsula College (about $136 more per year; $10,708 vs. $10,572).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Monterey Peninsula College than at Santa Monica College (85% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($5,540 vs. $5,088).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Monterey Peninsula College and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027; SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation (45% vs. 31%).

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.

Monterey Peninsula College
Santa Monica College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges