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California Community Colleges

Santa Monica College

  • 4 Year
  • Santa Monica, CA
  • 1,841 reviews
    How to Apply
    C
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      C-
    2. Value
      C
    3. Diversity
      B+
    4. Campus
      A
    5. Athletics
      C
    6. Party Scene
      B-
    7. Professors
      C+
    8. Location
      A+
    9. Dorms
      NG
    10. Campus Food
      NG
    11. Student Life
      B+
    12. Safety
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    SMC is a public college located in Santa Monica, California in the Los Angeles Area. It is a big institution with an enrollment of 11,095 undergraduate students. The SMC acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Business. Graduating 30% of students, SMC alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $23,500.
    About Santa Monica College...
    Athletic Division
    CCCAA
    Athletic Conference
    —
    Address
    1900 Pico Blvd
    Santa Monica, CA 90405
    Branch of
    California Community Colleges
    Website
    smc.edu
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    Santa Monica College Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    100%
    Application Deadline
    —
    SAT Range
    —
    ACT Range
    —
    Application Fee
    $0
    SAT/ACT
    —
    High School GPA
    —
    Early Decision/Early Action
    —

    Cost

    Net Price
    $6,688/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $4,806/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    51%

    Academics

    Professors
    C+
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    30:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    Yes
    73%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.224 responses
    35%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.220 responses
    62%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.220 responses
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    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
      2,366 Graduates
    • Natural Sciences
      324 Graduates
    • Business
      316 Graduates
    • Child Care Provider
      176 Graduates
    • Communications
      132 Graduates
    • Political Science and Government
      124 Graduates
    • Nursing
      53 Graduates
    • Accounting Technician and Bookkeeping
      52 Graduates
    • Arts
      43 Graduates
    • Film and Video Studies
      38 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    11,095Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    18,665
    Undergrads Over 25
    15%
    Pell Grant
    33%
    Varsity Athletes
    3%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 14 responses
    Report
    • Diverse
      64%
    • Stressed
      21%
    • Motivated
      14%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $33,000/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    30%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    82%
    National
    83%

    More opinions are needed to display this poll.  Take our survey

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    Santa Monica College Reviews

    1,841 reviews
    All Categories
    My education at Santa Monica College assisted me in getting accepted to the University of Southern California for the spring semester of 2020! I took mostly general education classes that were usually interesting, and I learned a lot. It was easy to apply for financial aid through the financial aid office, and I had a great experience with a counselor that assisted me by helping me pick my classes. However, the atmosphere of a community college was quite discouraging, because no one really talked to each other. I spent most of my time with friends from high school and working when I was not at school or studying. I took 15 credits, and although it was a lot of work, it was manageable and I recommend taking 15 credits to anyone that wants to show a 4-year school they mean business!
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    Santa Monica College is a top Community College for transferring. It holds diverse programs for Associate Degrees and for transfer to a 4-year university.

    Campus: the community is really diverse, with more than 3,000 students that are internationals. There are programs that help minorities and internationals to feel welcomed into the community (Adelante Program, Black Collegians Program, International Student Forum, etc...). The campus itself is at great location, 10 minutes by car from Santa Monica Pier, and it has public transportation right next to it for students who don't have a car.

    Academics: SMC offers many professors for the same class, so the chances of having a good experience with teachers and learning is high. SMC also offers many opportunities to build your extracurricular portfolio. You can be President's Ambassador, Associate Student representative, Alumni Ambassador, SI leader; jobs on campus, internships. Take advantage of all that! Good Luck!
    I loved this school. The campus is beautiful. There are so many courses, amenities, and extracurricular activities offered. I NEVER had a 'bad' professor. I would relive my experience there if I could! It's also really close to the metro which takes you to downtown Santa Monica where there is absolutely anything you want.