Head-to-head · 2026
Modesto Junior College vs Santa Monica College
Compare average net price ($2,818 at Modesto Junior College; $2,779 at Santa Monica College), ROI score (37.59 vs 37.96), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($42,368 vs $42,193), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Modesto Junior 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 | Modesto Junior College | Santa Monica College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 37.59 | 37.96 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $2,818 | $2,779 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $11,272 | $11,116 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $1,282 | $1,156 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $9,264 | $10,708 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $42,368 ✓ | $42,193 |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 29.6% | 36.3% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 71.4% | — |
| Median debt | — | $6,450 |
| Enrollment | 15,109 | 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 | Modesto Junior College | Santa Monica College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,658 ✓ | $1,896 |
| Family income $30–48k | $1,623 ✓ | $2,442 |
| Family income $48–75k | $4,809 | $4,440 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $6,508 ✓ | $7,087 |
| Family income $110k+ | $8,681 | $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 | Modesto Junior College | Santa Monica College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 17.9% | 56.7% |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 11.5% | 4.7% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 9.1% | 5% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 7.1% | 5.1% |
| Psychology, General | 6.3% | 2.2% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 3.8% | 0.7% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 3.3% | 0.4% |
| Sociology | 2.7% | 0.9% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Santa Monica College reports the lower average net price by $39 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $156 difference over four years ($11,116 vs $11,272).
Modesto Junior College reports $175 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($42,368 vs $42,193). 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
Modesto Junior College vs Santa Monica College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Santa Monica College is cheaper — average net price $2,779 per year vs $2,818 at Modesto Junior College. The annual difference of $39 adds up to about $156 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Modesto Junior College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $42,368 vs $42,193 at Santa Monica College. The gap in the federal data is $175. 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.