Santa Monica College
- Santa Monica College strives to create a learning environment that both challenges our students and supports them in achieving their educational goals. We prepare our students to contribute to the global community as they develop an understanding of their personal relationship to the world’s social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and natural environments.
School Highlights
Santa Monica College serves 28,800 students (38% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 43:1 is lower than the state community college average of 45:1.
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 75%.
Top Rankings
Santa Monica College ranks among the top 20% of community colleges in California for:
- Category Attribute
- Community Size Largest student body
School Overview
The teacher population of 668 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
| Santa Monica College | (CA) Community College Avg. | |
| Carnegie Classification | Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant | Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional |
| Institution Level | Four or more years | At least 2 but less than 4 years |
| Institution Control | Public | Public |
| Total Faculty | 668 staff | 149 staff |
Source: 2019 (or latest year available) IPEDS
School Notes
- To fulfill this mission, the College provides open and affordable access to excellent associate degree and occupational certificate programs. These programs prepare students for successful careers, develop college-level skills, enable transfer to universities, and foster a personal commitment to lifelong learning. We have an impressive academic record. We are the leader among the state's 108 community colleges in transferring students to the University of California , University of Southern California and other four-year campuses. We also pride ourselves on preparing students for careers of the 21st century – in such fields as nursing, computer applications, early childhood education, business, accounting, graphic design and other occupations. Set on a 38-acre main campus less than two miles from the beach, Santa Monica College has everything today's student needs to succeed – computer labs, athletic facilities, performing and visual arts spaces, and active student clubs. The SMC Library underwent a $23.6 million expansion and modernization and reopened in August 2003 as a state-of-the-art, architecturally praised facility. Our Science Complex, which opened in fall 1999, features the latest in equipment and high-tech labs. Our award-winning faculty works closely with students to ensure their success, and we have numerous student services to help students meet their goals. Santa Monica College – a two-year community college accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – opened in 1929 with just 153 students. It has now grown to a thriving campus with 25,000 students and offerings in more than 80 fields of study.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to Santa Monica College is West Los Angeles College (4.9 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- 16,000 students | 4.90 Mi9000 Overland Avenue
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 287-4200 4.9016,000 - Los Angeles ORT College-Los Angeles CampusPrivate not-for-profit119 students | 6.60 Mi6435 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 966-5444 6.60119 - American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesPrivate not-for-profit263 students | 9.00 Mi1336 North La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(800) 463-8990 9.00263 - Los Angeles Film SchoolPrivate for-profit3,806 students | 9.80 Mi6363 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
(877) 952-3456 9.803,806 - CBD CollegePrivate not-for-profit628 students | 9.90 Mi3699 Wilshire Blvd., Fourth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 427-2200 9.90628
Recent Articles
Check out the latest rankings by Community College Times that shows the community colleges that were the top degree producers in the country last year.
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July 30, 2021
Going to college is a major commitment and a big decision – one that thousands of students postponed during the pandemic. Now that things are slowly returning to normal, what does the world of academia look like and what challenges are educators currently facing?
