·Public 2-year·Est. 1929
Santa Monica College (SMC), founded in 1929 and located on a 38-acre campus less than two miles from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California, is one of the most academically distinguished community colleges in the United States. Serving more than 32,000 students annually, SMC is the premier transfer institution in California, consistently leading all 108 state community colleges in the number of students transferring to the University of California and University of Southern California systems. The college offers associate degrees and certificates in 68 fields, including Liberal Arts, Sciences, Nursing, Business, Computer Applications, Graphic Design, and Early Childhood Education. SMC's world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities — including the Center for Media and Design, the Performing Arts Center, and multiple science labs — provide a strong academic foundation for both transfer and career pathways. International students from around the world are drawn to SMC's combination of academic excellence, affordability, and proximity to Los Angeles's entertainment and technology industries.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$10,708
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $10,708
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
