Head-to-head · 2026
Imperial Valley College vs Santa Monica College
Compare average net price ($1,115 at Imperial Valley College; $2,779 at Santa Monica College), ROI score (77.33 vs 37.96), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($34,487 vs $42,193), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Imperial Valley College; Open / not reported at Santa Monica College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Imperial Valley College | Santa Monica College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 77.33 ✓ | 37.96 |
| Avg net price | $1,115 ✓ | $2,779 |
| 4-year avg net price | $4,460 ✓ | $11,116 |
| In-state tuition | $1,148 | $1,156 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $8,852 | $10,708 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $34,487 | $42,193 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 44.6% ✓ | 36.3% |
| Retention rate | 75.7% | — |
| Median debt | — | $6,450 |
| Enrollment | 7,652 | 21,440 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Imperial Valley College | Santa Monica College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,112 ✓ | $1,896 |
| Family income $30–48k | — | $2,442 |
| Family income $48–75k | — | $4,440 |
| Family income $75–110k | $2,221 ✓ | $7,087 |
| Family income $110k+ | — | $8,395 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Imperial Valley College | Santa Monica College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 37.7% | 56.7% |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 11.4% | 4.7% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 8.7% | 0.7% |
| Psychology, General | 6.2% | 2.2% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2.5% | 5.1% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 2.5% | 5% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 0.8% | 2.8% |
| Sociology | 2.2% | 0.9% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Imperial Valley College reports the lower average net price by $1,664 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $6,656 difference over four years ($4,460 vs $11,116).
Santa Monica College reports $7,706 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($42,193 vs $34,487). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Imperial Valley College vs Santa Monica College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Imperial Valley College is cheaper — average net price $1,115 per year vs $2,779 at Santa Monica College. The annual difference of $1,664 adds up to about $6,656 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Santa Monica College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $42,193 vs $34,487 at Imperial Valley College. The gap in the federal data is $7,706. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.