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 ($4,249) and its out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees is around the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $9,664.
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.
| 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.
| 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Out-of-State | $23,893 | $23,964 | $24,035 | $24,106 | $95,997 |
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between Santa Monica College and its similar schools. The similar schools are based on academic factors such as school type, level, and rivalry schools.
| 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 |
College Cost Explorer
The following tool gives a comprehensice way to explore tuition and other college expenses year by year. It provides the past 5 years' colleges costs so that you can check increase rate and estimate future year cost. In addition, financial aid data including grant, scholarship, and federal student loans is also available for the past five years. Use the left menu to explore the tuition and college cost at Santa Monica College.
Santa Monica College 2024 Costs of Attendance
| In-State | Out-of-State | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tuition & fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | Tuition & Fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | |
| Undergraduate | $1,156 | $1,746 | $15,818 | $9,316 | $1,746 | $15,818 |