About
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.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 6.4-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 157 Title IV programs, 3 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 153 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing3 · 1.9%
- No Data153 · 97.5%
- Failing1 · 0.6%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Programmatic accreditations · 1
Action history · 5
- Jan 2024Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Sep 2023Grant Substantive Change: DegreeAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Apr 2023Renewal of AccreditationAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Jul 2017Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation RemovedAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Feb 2017Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 7,640 students received $36.9M in Pell grants, alongside $7.5M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 388 borrowers who entered repayment, 15 (3.8%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Santa Monica College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus8
- Public property8
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Sexual orientation2
- Race1
- National origin1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Santa Monica College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Santa Monica College selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSanta Monica College | 36% | Open admission | 23,453 | $2,779 | Baccalaureate |
| — | Open admission | 13,532 | $3,860 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 39,727 | $6,390 | Baccalaureate | |
| 50% | Open admission | 30,746 | $14,621 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 30,728 | $14,506 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 28,313 | $6,615 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 39,548 | $8,969 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 15,924 | $4,606 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 69,749 | $3,214 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 21,970 | $13,031 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,999 | $11,713 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,410 | $660 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 21,483 | $3,861 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 53,253 | $5,737 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 73,077 | $11,252 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 58,941 | $5,463 | Baccalaureate | |
| 0% | Open admission | 18,258 | $2,818 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 25,916 | $9,182 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 12,556 | $6,007 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 17,441 | $14,379 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 18,841 | $8,341 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 15,649 | $8,440 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 19,901 | $4,585 | Community College | |
| 92% | Open admission | 19,212 | $5,814 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 31,812 | $12,143 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 27,248 | $3,133 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 12,758 | $11,098 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 19,415 | $5,992 | Community College | |
| 20% | Open admission | 27,431 | $1,751 | Baccalaureate | |
| 0% | Open admission | 11,885 | $10,206 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 47,425 | $12,037 | Baccalaureate | |
| Peer group median | 28% | — | 21,970 | $6,390 |
Institutions like Santa Monica College
Explore the federal data for institutions in Santa Monica College's comparison group.
- BaccalaureateCalifornia
Antelope Valley Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,532Net price$3,860View data - BaccalaureateTexas
Austin Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment39,727Net price$6,390View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Bakersfield College
Grad rate50%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment30,746Net price$14,621View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Broward College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment30,728Net price$14,506View data - BaccalaureateNevada
College of Southern Nevada
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment28,313Net price$6,615View data - BaccalaureateTexas
Collin County Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment39,548Net price$8,969View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Cypress College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,924Net price$4,606View data - Community CollegeTexas
Dallas College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment69,749Net price$3,214View data - Community CollegeColorado
Front Range Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,970Net price$13,031View data - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Greenville Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,999Net price$11,713View data - BaccalaureateMichigan
Henry Ford College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,410Net price$660View data - Community CollegeFlorida
Hillsborough Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,483Net price$3,861View data - Community CollegeTexas
Houston Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment53,253Net price$5,737View data - Community CollegeTexas
Lone Star College System
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment73,077Net price$11,252View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Miami Dade College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment58,941Net price$5,463View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Modesto Junior College
Grad rate0%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,258Net price$2,818View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Palm Beach State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment25,916Net price$9,182View data - BaccalaureateColorado
Pikes Peak State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,556Net price$6,007View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Rio Hondo College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment17,441Net price$14,379View data - Community CollegeArizona
Rio Salado College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,841Net price$8,341View data - Community CollegeMissouri
Saint Louis Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,649Net price$8,440View data - Community CollegeTexas
San Antonio College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,901Net price$4,585View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
San Diego Mesa College
Grad rate92%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,212Net price$5,814View data - Community CollegeTexas
San Jacinto Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment31,812Net price$12,143View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Santa Ana College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment27,248Net price$3,133View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Santa Fe College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,758Net price$11,098View data - Community CollegeOhio
Sinclair Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,415Net price$5,992View data - BaccalaureateTexas
South Texas College
Grad rate20%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment27,431Net price$1,751View data - BaccalaureateTexas
Tyler Junior College
Grad rate0%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,885Net price$10,206View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Valencia College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment47,425Net price$12,037View data
Santa Monica College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research at SMC supports the College’s mission and goals related to institutional effectiveness, student learning and success, and campus climate by providing quality, accessible, and relevant data, facilitating evidence-informed decision-making, and promoting a culture of equity-minded inquiry.
Visit IR office page- Dr. Hannah LawlerDean, Institutional Research
- Anne Marre BautistaResearch & Planning Analyst
- Dr. Rebecca PenaResearch & Planning Analyst (Equity & Pathways)
- Yosief YihunieSenior Research Analyst
- Daniel BerumenSenior Research Analyst
- Christopher GibsonSenior Research Analyst
- Trena JohnsonAdministrative Assistant II
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planMaster Plan for Education - Santa Monica CollegeThe Santa Monica College Master Plan for Education 2025-2030 establishes a strategic framework aimed at enhancing educational program development over the next five years. It incorporates a comprehensive analysis of demographic, economic, and educational challenges facing the community. The plan was developed using extensive consultation with various stakeholders and a thorough internal and external environmental scan to inform future educational strategies and facilities planning.admin.smc.edu
Notable alumni of Santa Monica College (8)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Rivers CuomoArts and Entertainment
- Dustin HoffmanArts and Entertainment
- James DeanArts and Entertainment
- Arnold SchwarzeneggerOther
- Paul Thomas AndersonArts and Entertainment
- Ryan SeacrestArts and Entertainment
- Hilary SwankArts and Entertainment
- Evan LysacekSports
Frequently asked questions about Santa Monica College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Santa Monica College.
What is the acceptance rate at Santa Monica College?
What is the graduation rate at Santa Monica College?
How many students attend Santa Monica College?
What is the average net price at Santa Monica College?
Where is Santa Monica College located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Santa Monica College?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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