SMC vs. Madera Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA with Madera Community College in Madera, California on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Monica College is larger than Madera Community College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,636 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting); Madera Community College is in Madera, California (Rural Fringe setting).
• Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Madera Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Monica College 27:1; Madera Community College 27:1.

SMC vs. Madera Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or Madera Community College? 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 Santa Monica College than Madera Community College ($5,685 vs. $7,155).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Madera Community College are 30.6% lower than at Santa Monica College ($17,982 vs. $25,908).
• Madera Community College is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $222 more per year; $1,378.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at SMC than at Madera Community College (about $2,070 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $8,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Madera Community College than at Santa Monica College (94% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Madera Community College students is 53.6% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($8,512 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Madera Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC or Madera Community College? 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 Madera Community College 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; Madera Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

SMC vs. Madera Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and Madera Community College? 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).

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.