Santa Monica College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who want a large campus community. graduation rate is below 40%; fewer than half of freshmen return for sophomore year. a public school with 21,194 students.
About This School
Santa Monica College is a public institution located in Santa Monica, California with approximately 21,194 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $3,600 per year. The graduation rate is 36%, and the typical graduate earns $40,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Santa Monica College (SMC) is a public community college in Santa Monica, California. Founded as a junior college in 1929, SMC enrolls over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study. The college initially served pre-college high school students, eventually expanding its enrollment to educate college-age and non-traditional students with the intention to transfer to a four-year university. The college has high transfer rates to four-year universities such as the University of California and California State University campuses, being a leader among state community colleges in transfers to the former.
This is a strong option for students serious about transferring to a UC or Cal State, with an impressively low net price of just $3,600/year and minimal debt at graduation ($6,500) making it one of the most affordable paths to a four-year degree in California. The 36% graduation rate sounds low, but that's typical for community colleges where many students attend part-time or transfer before completing a degree — SMC's actual transfer record to UC campuses is a genuine standout. Just go in with a clear plan: students who treat this as a two-year launchpad tend to get real value here, while those without direction risk stalling out.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (21,194 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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San Diego State University
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University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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