Academic Comparison between Whittier and SMC

Whittier College and Santa Monica College are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Whittier is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Whittier, CA and SMC is a four-year, public school located in Santa Monica, CA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Whittier is a private (not-for-profit) and SMC is a public school and both are four-year schools.
  • Whittier has more expensive tuition & fees ($51,350) than SMC ($10,708).
  • SMC has more students with 23,453 students while Whittier has 795 students.
  • Whittier has a lower number of students per faculty with 8 to 1 while SMC's ratio is 27 to 1.
  • SMC has more full-time faculties with 349 faculties while Whittier has 96 full-time faculties.
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Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Whittier Collegevs.Santa Monica College
Whittier, CaliforniaLocationSanta Monica, California
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)School Typefour-year, Public
Master's degreeHighest Degree OfferedBachelor's degree
Baccalaureate College - Arts & SciencesCarnegie ClassificationAssociate's - Private For-profit 4-year Primarily Associate's
$51,3502025 Tuition & Fees
In-State$1,156
Out-Of-State$10,708
93%% Receiving Financial Aid52%
$32,501Average Amount of Financial Aid$4,114
80.79 %Acceptance Rates-
5.41 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)-
-SAT Score-
-ACT Score-
60 %Graduation Rate36 %
24 %Transfer-out Rate15 %
66 %Retention Rate-
795Student Population23,453
96Number of Faculties349
8 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio27 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement servicesOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services