Santa Monica College started in 1929 with just 153 students, and now they have more than 45,000 students. It is a 2-year community college accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. They offer over 180 degrees and certificate programs in more than 100 fields of study.

  • It is one of the most affordable institutes for higher education in the world.
  • It is known among the state's 114 community colleges in transferring students to the University of California, University of Southern California and other 4 year campuses.
  • There are around 3,400 international students from more than 100 countries.

Ranking

  • #1 transfer college to UCLA, USC, the University of California and Loyola Marymount University.

Highlights

College Type Public
Campus Setting Urban
Endowment 574.1 million USD
Work-study program Yes
Intake Seasons Fall Semester; Spring Semester; Winter Session; Summer Session
Mode of Program Full time; Part-time; online
The annual cost of Attendance 27,897 USD
Admission Helpdesk 877 967-5464

Programs

  • The college usually conducts courses that help the students to transfer themselves to the Universities of California.
  • They offer courses in the 7 areas of interest and they are:
    1. Arts, Media, and Entertainment
    2. Business
    3. Culture, History, and Languages
    4. Education
    5. Health and Wellness
    6. People and Society
    7. Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
  • They offer General education, Associate degrees, Pre-professional courses, Bachelor of Science courses, etc.

Campus

There are various student services available to help students achieve their goals and add something extra to their college experience. Some of the services are:

  • Education planning
  • On-campus student employment
  • Transportation services to the campus
  • Tutoring services
  • Ombuds office to listen to the students' issues.
  • Child care services
  • Student Judicial Affairs promote a safe learning environment for students, staff, and faculty.

Residence

SMC does not provide housing facilities, but they do provide general information regarding accommodation in the neighborhood.

Admission Process

Application Portal: SMC International students admission

Application fees: 75 USD

Application deadline:

Term Out of country application deadline In-country application deadline for students holding valid F1 visas
Winter session October 15 November 15
Spring session November 15 January 5
Summer session April 15 May 15
Fall session July 1 July 15

Supporting documents

  • Financial statement, showing that the applicant can meet the estimated tuition and living expenses.
  • Copy of passport.
  • Transcripts of the last school/ college attended, showing a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Proof of English language proficiency.
  • Essay of at least 500 words, explaining the reasons for joining SMC.
  • Any document for age verification. The student must be 18 years old. 

Cost of Attendance

Academic expenses

Expenses Tuition fees in a year (i.e, 2 semesters)
Tuition fees 9,000 USD
SMC Health Fee 42 USD
Associate Student Fee 39 USD
ID Card 26 USD
Health Insurance 1,884 USD

Other expenses

Expenses Estimated cost per month Estimated cost for 9 months
Living Expenses 1,234 USD (homestay with 3 meals per day) 11,556 USD
Books and Supplies 873 USD per semester 1,746 USD for 2 semesters
Personal Expenses 351 USD 3,167 USD
Public Transportation 167 USD 1,439 USD

Financial aid and scholarship

Scholarships are available for the incoming students, that range from 250 USD to 2,000 USD. 

All these scholarships are privately funded. Some of them are:

Scholarship Award amount Eligibility
Willie and Raymond Acevedo Memorial Scholarship 1,000 USD (3 awards per fiscal year) 2.50 GPA; Incoming students
The American Legion Ronald Reagan Palisades Unit 283: Auxiliary Scholarship 3,000 USD 3.00 GPA; All incoming and continuing students.
Associate Student High School Award 1,000 USD 2.50 GPA; Full-time incoming students7 Completion of 20 hours of community service (on Or off campus) by the beginning of the spring semester.
Kermit & Elinore Greene Endowment High School Award 1,000 USD (2 awards per fiscal year) 3.00 GPA; Incoming students (1st generation college students are preferred) & Based on financial need
Dennis Kipperman Community Service Scholarship 500 USD 2.50 GPA & Incoming, continuing and transferring students.

Alumni

  • SMC offers an online community known as the Alumni Network and connects the alumni, faculty, and professionals to gain support and perspective related to their career even after graduating from college.
  • Alumni can provide mentorship, industry insight, or professional development to the current students of SMC.

Placement

  • The college does not offer any campus placement. The students are usually transferred to the colleges of California for degree courses.