Head-to-head · 2026
Santa Monica College vs West Valley College
Compare average net price ($2,779 at Santa Monica College; $3,423 at West Valley College), ROI score (37.96 vs 37.75), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($42,193 vs $51,688), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Santa Monica College; Open / not reported at West Valley 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 | Santa Monica College | West Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 37.96 ✓ | 37.75 |
| Avg net price | $2,779 ✓ | $3,423 |
| 4-year avg net price | $11,116 ✓ | $13,692 |
| In-state tuition | $1,156 | $0 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $10,708 | $8,702 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $42,193 | $51,688 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 36.3% | 50.7% ✓ |
| Retention rate | — | 77.9% |
| Median debt | $6,450 | — |
| Enrollment | 21,440 | 6,416 |
| 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 | Santa Monica College | West Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,896 | $1,658 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,442 | $2,226 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $4,440 ✓ | $5,974 |
| Family income $75–110k | $7,087 ✓ | $8,651 |
| Family income $110k+ | $8,395 ✓ | $9,893 |
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 | Santa Monica College | West Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 56.7% | 41.2% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 5.1% | 8.9% |
| Economics | 0.7% | 8.8% |
| Communication and Media Studies | 2% | 5.9% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 5% | 2.1% |
| Psychology, General | 2.2% | 4.1% |
| Design and Applied Arts | 1.6% | 2.2% |
| Political Science and Government | 2.2% | 1.4% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Santa Monica College reports the lower average net price by $644 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $2,576 difference over four years ($11,116 vs $13,692).
West Valley College reports $9,495 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($51,688 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
Santa Monica College vs West Valley 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 $3,423 at West Valley College. The annual difference of $644 adds up to about $2,576 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
West Valley College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $51,688 vs $42,193 at Santa Monica College. The gap in the federal data is $9,495. 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.