Paying for SMC

$1,156 0.52%

Undergraduate(in-state)

$9,316 2.44%

Undergraduate(out-of-state)

How much does Santa Monica College tuition cost?

The 2024 tuition & fees of Santa Monica College is $1,156 for in-state and $9,316 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is lower than the average tuition for 4-year, but associate colleges' tuition of $14,610 based on out-of-state tuition rate.

Based on the last year increase rate, The 2025 estimated tuition & fees at 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 2024 Tuition & Fees
YearIn-StateOut-of-State4-year, But Associate Colleges' Average
2022-2023$1,150 $9,094$13,818
2023-2024$1,156$9,316$14,610
Change % 2023-20240.52%2.44%5.73%
2024-2025 Estimate$1,162$9,543$15,447

How much do you actually pay at SMC?

The living costs at SMC is $15,818 when living off campus. The off-campus living costs stayed same.

The SMC's 2024 COA is $18,720 for in-state and $26,880 for out-of-state students. living.

52% of enrolled 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 in-state and $23,548 for out-of-state students..

Santa Monica College 2024 Cost of Attendance (COA)
Off-Campus
In-StateOut-State
Tuition & Fees$1,156$9,316
Room & Board$11,556
Personal Expenses$4,262
Books & Supplies$1,746
COA$18,720$26,880
COA with Financial Aid$15,388$23,548

SMC 4-Years Tuition

How Much is SMC tuition for 4 years?

SMC's 4-years tuition is $4,639 for in-state and $37,822 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate.

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.

SMC 4 Years Tuition & Fees Estimates
ResidencyFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)In-State$1,158$1,159$1,161$1,162$4,639
Out-of-State$9,372$9,427$9,483$9,540$37,822
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)In-State$1,159$1,161$1,162$1,164$4,645
Out-of-State$9,427$9,483$9,540$9,597$38,048
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)In-State$1,161$1,162$1,164$1,165$4,651
Out-of-State$9,483$9,540$9,597$9,654$38,274
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)In-State$1,162$1,164$1,165$1,167$4,657
Out-of-State$9,540$9,597$9,654$9,712$38,502
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)In-State$1,164$1,165$1,167$1,168$4,663
Out-of-State$9,597$9,654$9,712$9,769$38,732

Net Price for 4 Years at SMC

Based on recent tuition increase rate, for the students who were admitted in Fall 2024, the estimated 4-years COA is $74,895 for California residents and $108,078 for out-of-state students.

SMC 4 Years COA
ResidencyFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)In-State$18,722$18,723$18,725$18,726$74,895
Out-of-State$26,936$26,991$27,047$27,104$108,078
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)In-State$18,723$18,725$18,726$18,728$74,901
Out-of-State$26,991$27,047$27,104$27,161$108,304
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)In-State$18,725$18,726$18,728$18,729$74,907
Out-of-State$27,047$27,104$27,161$27,218$108,530
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)In-State$18,726$18,728$18,729$18,731$74,913
Out-of-State$27,104$27,161$27,218$27,276$108,758
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)In-State$18,728$18,729$18,731$18,732$74,919
Out-of-State$27,161$27,218$27,276$27,333$108,988

Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid

After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $61,567 for California residents and $94,750 for out-of-state students.

SMC 4 Years COA after Receiving Financial Aid
ResidencyFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)In-State$15,390$15,391$15,393$15,394$61,567
Out-of-State$23,604$23,659$23,715$23,772$94,750
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)In-State$15,391$15,393$15,394$15,396$61,573
Out-of-State$23,659$23,715$23,772$23,829$94,976
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)In-State$15,393$15,394$15,396$15,397$61,579
Out-of-State$23,715$23,772$23,829$23,886$95,202
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)In-State$15,394$15,396$15,397$15,399$61,585
Out-of-State$23,772$23,829$23,886$23,944$95,430
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)In-State$15,396$15,397$15,399$15,400$61,591
Out-of-State$23,829$23,886$23,944$24,001$95,660

Tuition Per Credit Hour

For part-time and/or full-time students who take additional credits at SMC is $46 for California residents and $386 for out-of-state students.

Per Credit Hour Charge at SMC
YearIn-StateOut-of-State
Undergraduate2022-2023$46$377
2023-2024$46$386
2024-2025 (Estimate)$46$395

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.

Santa Monica College 2024 undergraduate tuition chartSanta Monica College 2024 cost per credit hour chartSanta Monica College 2024 COA (cost of attendance) chartSanta Monica College 2024 room & board cost chartSanta Monica College 2024 books & supplies cost chart

Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges

The following table compares tuition & fees between Santa Monica College and its similar schools.

Tuition Comparison between SMC and Similar Colleges
In-StateOut-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

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