Santa Monica College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Santa Monica College is a public community college in Santa Monica, California, with about 21,440 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $2,779 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,156. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (41.0%) and White (25.9%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,156
- 2024 Average Net Price: $2,779 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 21,440 43.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 36.27%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
- First-Generation Students: 50.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 13.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 29.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,052
- Room & Board: $25,908 annual estimate
Santa Monica College: what the data shows
Common questions about Santa Monica College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Santa Monica College?
Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA (ZIP 90405-1628).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Santa Monica College public or private?
Santa Monica College is a Public institution.
How much does Santa Monica College cost?
Published tuition: $1,156 in-state, $10,708 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $2,779.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $1,896 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,442 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $4,440 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $7,087 |
| $110,001+ | $8,395 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,624.
How big is Santa Monica College?
Total enrollment: 21,440 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 34,052 students.
About 43% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Santa Monica College?
150%-time completion rate: 36.27%.
What do graduates of Santa Monica College earn?
Median earnings: $31,977 six years after entry; $42,193 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $6,450.
25.63% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Santa Monica College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (7,134 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (2,535 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (382 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (374 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (288 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (254 completions)
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (244 completions)
- Psychology, General (198 completions)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (182 completions)
- Art/Art Studies, General (152 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Santa Monica College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 36.27%; median earnings $42,193 at 10 years; net price $2,779. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,156
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Santa Monica College was $1,156.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$2,779
2024 Value
In 2024 Santa Monica College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $2,779.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$11,116 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$2,779 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$4,624 4-Year In-State Tuition
$42,832 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$25,908 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,746 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$28,810 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$115,240 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Santa Monica College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
25.63% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
3.28% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Santa Monica College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Santa Monica College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,140 | $7,596 | $6,443 |
| 2014 | $1,140 | $7,836 | $6,040 |
| 2015 | $1,136 | $8,078 | $5,705 |
| 2016 | $1,142 | $8,078 | $5,429 |
| 2017 | $1,142 | $8,558 | $4,868 |
| 2018 | $1,142 | $8,918 | $4,325 |
| 2019 | $1,144 | $8,840 | $3,286 |
| 2020 | $1,148 | $9,044 | $4,384 |
| 2021 | $1,146 | $9,090 | $3,305 |
| 2022 | $1,150 | $9,094 | $4,167 |
| 2023 | $1,156 | $9,316 | $3,600 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Santa Monica College reported total enrollment of about 21,440 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (41.0%), White (25.9%), and Black or African American (9.2%). About 25.63% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
43.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Santa Monica College in 2024 is 21,440 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 34,052 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 41.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
4.76% 100% Completion Time
36.27% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 4.76% of students graduating from Santa Monica College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 43% male / 57% female
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 44% male / 56% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 53% male / 47% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Santa Monica College.
Return on Investment
$6,450 Median Student Debt
$42,193 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
15.29% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
3695.70% Return on Investment
1.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Santa Monica College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 73 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 7,134 completions
2. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 2,535 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 382 completions
4. Biological and Physical Sciences: 374 completions
5. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 288 completions
6. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 254 completions
7. Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping: 244 completions
8. Psychology, General: 198 completions
9. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 182 completions
Most popular programs at Santa Monica College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Santa Monica College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Santa Monica College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 29.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $14,243
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,852
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Santa Monica College is a public institution located in Santa Monica, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Humanities/Humanistic Studies, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 21,440 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (41.0%), White (25.9%), Black or African American (9.2%). The 150%-time completion rate is 36.27%. Approximately 25.63% of students receive Pell Grants. About 50.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
Location
Santa Monica, CA 90405-1628
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 36.27% graduation rate at Santa Monica College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 73 distinct degree programs, Santa Monica College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Santa Monica College located?
Santa Monica College is located in Santa Monica, CA.
How much does Santa Monica College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,156 and average net price is $2,779 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $25,908 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Santa Monica College?
Santa Monica College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 34,052 students, Hispanic or Latino (41.0%), White (25.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Santa Monica College?
About 50.2% of students at Santa Monica College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Santa Monica College earn?
Median earnings are $31,977 six years after entry and $42,193 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Santa Monica College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 36.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Santa Monica College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $6,450.
Is Santa Monica College public or private?
Santa Monica College is a public institution located in Santa Monica, CA.
Is Santa Monica College an HBCU?
No. Santa Monica College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Santa Monica College a tribal college?
No. Santa Monica College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Santa Monica College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Santa Monica College reports 41.0% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Santa Monica College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Santa Monica College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Santa Monica, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.