The average graduation rate over the past 10 years (2015-2025) is 30.90% where the last year rate was 36%.
The average retention rate of the last 11 years is 26.90% for full-time students and 5.10% for part-time students.
Judging by its graduation rate and retention rate, many students at SMC do not enroll continually (i.e transfer-out or stop studying) and do not complete their studies in time.
The average graduation rate of the last 11 years is 30.90% where the current academic year rate is 36%.
The following table and chart show the changes of graduation rate at Santa Monica College over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 29% | 27% | 30% |
| 2016-17 | 30% | 28% | 32% |
| 2017-18 | 30% | 28% | 32% |
| 2018-19 | 28% | 26% | 29% |
| 2019-20 | 28% | 27% | 30% |
| 2020-21 | 30% | 28% | 32% |
| 2021-22 | 31% | 30% | 33% |
| 2022-23 | 32% | 30% | 33% |
| 2023-24 | 35% | 32% | 38% |
| 2024-25 | 36% | 32% | 39% |
| Average | 30.90% | 28.80% | 32.80% |
The average transfer-out rate of the last 11 years is 17.50% where the current year rate is 14%. The following table and chart illustrate the change of transfer-out rate at Santa Monica College from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Transfer-out Rate |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 17% |
| 2016-17 | 19% |
| 2017-18 | 18% |
| 2018-19 | 20% |
| 2019-20 | 18% |
| 2020-21 | 18% |
| 2021-22 | 17% |
| 2022-23 | 18% |
| 2023-24 | 16% |
| 2024-25 | 14% |
| Average | 17.50% |
The average retention rate of the last 11 years is 26.90% for full-time students and 5.10% for part-time students.
The following table shows the changes of retention rate at SMC from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 69% | 51% |
| 2016-17 | - | - |
| 2017-18 | - | - |
| 2018-19 | - | - |
| 2019-20 | 100% | - |
| 2020-21 | 100% | - |
| 2021-22 | - | - |
| 2022-23 | - | - |
| 2023-24 | - | - |
| 2024-25 | - | - |
| Average | 26.90% | 5.10% |
The average student to faculty ratio over the last 11 years is 28.60 to 1 where the current academic year ratio is 27 to 1. The following table and chart illustrate the change of student to faculty ratio at Santa Monica College since 2025.
| Year | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 30:1 |
| 2016-17 | 30:1 |
| 2017-18 | 30:1 |
| 2018-19 | 30:1 |
| 2019-20 | 29:1 |
| 2020-21 | 30:1 |
| 2021-22 | 27:1 |
| 2022-23 | 26:1 |
| 2023-24 | 27:1 |
| 2024-25 | 27:1 |
| Average | 28.60:1 |
Share your experiences and thoughts about Santa Monica College. It will be a great help to applicants and prospective students!