SMC vs. College of the Sequoias

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA with College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Monica College is larger than College of the Sequoias based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 14,494 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); College of the Sequoias is in Visalia, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Sequoias is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; College of the Sequoias 29:1.

SMC vs. College of the Sequoias Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or College of the Sequoias? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Sequoias than SMC ($2,152 vs. $5,685).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Sequoias are 13.2% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,500 vs. $25,908).
• College of the Sequoias is 20.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $238 more per year; $1,394.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at SMC than at College of the Sequoias (about $1,670 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Sequoias than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Sequoias students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($7,030 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. College of the Sequoias Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or College of the Sequoias? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of the Sequoias and SMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SMC - Open admission; College of the Sequoias - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

SMC vs. College of the Sequoias Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and College of the Sequoias? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Santa Monica College earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than College of the Sequoias graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $31,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Sequoias graduates have a $2,473 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,027 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Sequoias graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($41 vs. $67).
• More College of the Sequoias graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.