Paying for Santa Monica College

	In-State	Out-of-State
2024 Undergraduate Tuition & Fee	$1,156 0.52%	$9,316 2.44%

The 2024 tuition & fees of Santa Monica College (SMC) are $1,156 for California residents and $9,316 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is around the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $9,621 based on out-of-state tuition rate.

52% of enrolled undergraduate students have received grants or scholarships and the average aid amount is $3,332. It could cover 35.77% of full tuition amount. After receiving the financial aid, the net price is $15,388 for California residents and $23,548 for out-of-state students including tuition, fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs.

SMC's 4-year tuition is $4,644 for California residents and $37,949 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate. The estimated 4-year COA including living costs and personal expenses is $74,900 for California residents and $108,205 for out-of-state students.

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Tuition, Fees, Living Costs, and Cost of Attendance (COA)

Undergraduate Program Tuition & Fees

For the academic year 2023-2024, the undergraduate tuition & fees at Santa Monica College is $1,156 for California residents and $9,316 for out-of-state students. It has been risen by 0.52% for California residents and increased by 2.44% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year. Its in-state undergraduate tuition & fees is much lower than the average amount ($4,271) and its out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees is around the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $9,621.

The 2025 estimated undergraduate tuition & fees of SMC is $1,162 for California residents and $9,543 for out-of-state students, a 2.4% increase compared to 2024's rate.

SMC Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
Year	In-State	Out-of-State	OFF Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses
2022-2023	$1,150	$9,094	$15,818
2023-2024	$1,156	$9,316	$15,818
Change % 2023-2024	0.52%	2.44%	0.00%
2024-2025	$1,162	$9,543	$15,818

Cost Per Credit Hour

The below table describes the cost per credit hour for part-time students and/or full-time students who take additional courses more than regular credit hours at SMC. The undergraduate cost per credit hour is $46 for California residents and $386 for out-of-state students.

Per Credit Hour Charge (2023-2024)
	Year	In-State	Out-of-State
Undergraduate	2022-2023	$46	$377
	2023-2024	$46	$386
	2024-2025	$46	$395

Data source: IPEDS (integrated Postsecondary Education Dta System)

Updated with 2023-2024 tuition (Last update: 03/01/2024)

Cost estimates for 2024-2025 are based on last year's rate of change.

SMC Tuition Charts

The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at SMC. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.

4-Years Costs of Attendance

How Much is the tuition for 4 years at SMC?

For the entering class 2024, the estimated tuition for 4 years at SMC is $4,644 for California residents and $37,949 for out-of-state students.

Since the tuition & fees at Santa Monica College have risen very slightly (very lower than national average) over the last 4 years, the actual costs may differ from the estimation based on the school or University system's new tuition policy.

The estimation excludes the book, supplies, and living costs before receiving any financial aid. See the other tabs for estimating 4-year total costs of attendance and after financial aid. The next table shows the estimated 4-years tuition & fees for the next 5 admission years. The estimation is based on 4-years changes in tuition & fees at the school.

SMC 4 Years Tuition & Fees Estimates
	Residency	Freshmen	Sophomore	Junior	Senior	4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	In-State	$1,158	$1,160	$1,162	$1,164	$4,644
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	Out-of-State	$9,384	$9,452	$9,521	$9,591	$37,949
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	In-State	$1,160	$1,162	$1,164	$1,166	$4,652
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	Out-of-State	$9,452	$9,521	$9,591	$9,661	$38,226
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	In-State	$1,162	$1,164	$1,166	$1,168	$4,660
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	Out-of-State	$9,521	$9,591	$9,661	$9,732	$38,505
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	In-State	$1,164	$1,166	$1,168	$1,170	$4,668
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	Out-of-State	$9,591	$9,661	$9,732	$9,803	$38,786
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	In-State	$1,166	$1,168	$1,170	$1,172	$4,676
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	Out-of-State	$9,661	$9,732	$9,803	$9,874	$39,069

COA including Books, Living Costs and Personal Expenses

The table shows the 4-years estimation of total costs of attendance (COA). It includes the tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, room & board charges, and other living expenses.

For the students who were admitted in Fall 2024, the estimated 4-years COA is $74,900 for California residents and $108,205 for out-of-state students.

SMC 4 Years COA
	Residency	Freshmen	Sophomore	Junior	Senior	4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	In-State	$18,722	$18,724	$18,726	$18,728	$74,900
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	Out-of-State	$26,948	$27,016	$27,085	$27,155	$108,205
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	In-State	$18,724	$18,726	$18,728	$18,730	$74,908
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	Out-of-State	$27,016	$27,085	$27,155	$27,225	$108,482
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	In-State	$18,726	$18,728	$18,730	$18,732	$74,916
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	Out-of-State	$27,085	$27,155	$27,225	$27,296	$108,761
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	In-State	$18,728	$18,730	$18,732	$18,734	$74,924
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	Out-of-State	$27,155	$27,225	$27,296	$27,367	$109,042
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	In-State	$18,730	$18,732	$18,734	$18,736	$74,932
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	Out-of-State	$27,225	$27,296	$27,367	$27,438	$109,325

Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid

Last year, 52% of enrolled undergraduate students have received grants or scholarship aid. It includes any financial aid from the federal government, state, local, institute, and other sources known by the institution. It excludes federal/private student loans.

After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $61,572 for California residents and $94,877 for out-of-state students.

SMC 4 Years COA after Receiving Financial Aid
	Residency	Freshmen	Sophomore	Junior	Senior	4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	In-State	$15,390	$15,392	$15,394	$15,396	$61,572
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	Out-of-State	$23,616	$23,684	$23,753	$23,823	$94,877
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	In-State	$15,392	$15,394	$15,396	$15,398	$61,580
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	Out-of-State	$23,684	$23,753	$23,823	$23,893	$95,154
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	In-State	$15,394	$15,396	$15,398	$15,400	$61,588
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	Out-of-State	$23,753	$23,823	$23,893	$23,964	$95,433
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	In-State	$15,396	$15,398	$15,400	$15,402	$61,596
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	Out-of-State	$23,823	$23,893	$23,964	$24,035	$95,714
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	In-State	$15,398	$15,400	$15,402	$15,404	$61,604
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	Out-of-State	$23,893	$23,964	$24,035	$24,106	$95,997

	In-State	Out-of-State
Santa Monica College	$1,156	$9,316
University of California-Los Angeles	$13,747	$44,524
University of California-Berkeley	$14,850	$45,627
University of California-San Diego	$15,265	$46,042
California State University-Fullerton	$7,073	$18,953
University of California-Davis	$15,247	$46,024