Head-to-head · 2026
Santa Monica College vs Yuba College
Compare average net price ($2,779 at Santa Monica College; $2,576 at Yuba College), ROI score (37.96 vs 38.39), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($42,193 vs $39,552), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Santa Monica College; Open / not reported at Yuba 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 | Yuba College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 37.96 | 38.39 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $2,779 | $2,576 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $11,116 | $10,304 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $1,156 | $1,128 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $10,708 | $8,208 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $42,193 ✓ | $39,552 |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 36.3% | 39.8% ✓ |
| Retention rate | — | 62.3% |
| Median debt | $6,450 | — |
| Enrollment | 21,440 | 4,779 |
| 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 | Yuba College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,896 ✓ | $3,766 |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,442 ✓ | $3,175 |
| Family income $48–75k | $4,440 ✓ | $4,452 |
| Family income $75–110k | $7,087 ✓ | $8,849 |
| Family income $110k+ | $8,395 | $713 ✓ |
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 | Yuba College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 56.7% | 19.7% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 5% | 16.5% |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 4.7% | 11.4% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 5.1% | 3.5% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 0.7% | 6.9% |
| Psychology, General | 2.2% | 3.9% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 2.8% | 1.4% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 0.4% | 2.4% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Yuba College reports the lower average net price by $203 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $812 difference over four years ($10,304 vs $11,116).
Santa Monica College reports $2,641 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($42,193 vs $39,552). 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 Yuba College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Yuba College is cheaper — average net price $2,576 per year vs $2,779 at Santa Monica College. The annual difference of $203 adds up to about $812 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Santa Monica College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $42,193 vs $39,552 at Yuba College. The gap in the federal data is $2,641. 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.