Santa Monica College combines exceptional affordability with strong support for economic mobility. As an Opportunity Builders institution, the college delivers minimal debt burdens and accessible pathways for first-generation and transfer students, creating opportunities for educational advancement at remarkably low cost.
Modestly below average, primarily due to lower absolute earnings typical of community college graduates
With exceptional performance, driven by minimal costs and extremely low debt levels
With well above average performance, indicating strong enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students
With top-tier results, reflecting the institution's effectiveness in supporting economic advancement for lower-income students
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisSanta Monica College delivers exceptional affordability with average net costs of just $3,600 annually, ranking among the most affordable institutions nationally. Students graduate with minimal debt, carrying a median of only $6,450 compared to the peer median of $19,500.
This represents a $13,050 advantage in borrowing levels, resulting in a highly favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15. While median earnings of $42,193 rank in the 27th percentile nationally and fall $15,431 below peer institutions, the extremely low educational costs create accessible pathways for students who might otherwise lack higher education opportunities.
Students seeking affordable education and second-chance opportunities, particularly transfer students (52.3%) and first-generation college students (50.2%). Well-suited for working adults and those from lower-income backgrounds who need flexible pathways to four-year degrees.
Santa Monica College's Opportunity Builders designation reflects strong support for student success despite modest earnings outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Santa Monica College hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/santa-monica-college/analysis.
Exceptional affordability with minimal debt
Santa Monica College ranks #190 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, achieving the 90.6th percentile with top-tier performance. Located in Santa Monica, California, this large public community college serves as a major transfer pathway institution with exceptional affordability.
The college enrolls 26.3% Pell-eligible students and a remarkable 50.2% first-generation students, demonstrating strong commitment to educational access. Transfer students comprise 52.3% of the student body, reflecting the institution's role as a bridge to four-year universities.
Graduates earn $42,193 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 27th percentile nationally. However, the college generates earnings $9,731 below expectations, placing it in the 16.1st percentile for this measure.
As an Opportunity Builders institution, Santa Monica College prioritizes access and affordability while working to improve post-graduation outcomes for diverse student populations.
Santa Monica College offers comprehensive community college programming focused on transfer preparation and workforce development. Federal earnings data is not available for specific programs due to the community college structure and transfer focus, where many students complete degrees at four-year institutions.
The college serves as a primary feeder to the University of California and California State University systems, with 52.3% of students transferring from other institutions before completing their studies at Santa Monica College. This transfer-intensive model means that many students' ultimate earnings reflect their bachelor's degree outcomes rather than community college completion alone.
The institution's strength lies in providing affordable foundational education and seamless transfer pathways rather than direct workforce preparation, making traditional program-level earnings analysis less applicable to the Santa Monica College model.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Santa Monica College offers exceptional affordability with average net costs of just $3,600 annually, representing one of the most accessible pricing structures in higher education. In-state tuition stands at only $1,156, while out-of-state students pay $9,316.
The average net price of $3,600 falls $10,570 below the peer median of $14,170, creating substantial cost advantages for students and families. This pricing reflects the community college mission of providing accessible education regardless of economic background.
The gap between the lowest income tier ($2,796) and highest income tier ($8,622) demonstrates progressive pricing that targets aid toward those with greatest financial need. Combined with minimal debt requirements and strong transfer pathways, Santa Monica College's cost structure removes traditional barriers to higher education access and enables students to begin college without significant financial risk.
Santa Monica College graduates show steady earnings growth over time, with median income rising from $31,977 six years after enrollment to $35,735 at eight years and $42,193 at ten years. This represents 32.0% growth from the six-year mark, demonstrating meaningful career progression.
These outcomes are based on substantial cohorts of 4,266 graduates at six years, 4,872 at eight years, and 5,079 at ten years, providing high confidence in reported figures. However, graduates earn $9,731 below expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Santa Monica College in the 16.1st percentile for earnings uplift.
Earnings span from $19,286 at the 25th percentile to $66,062 at the 75th percentile, reflecting a 3.4:1 ratio that indicates significant variation in post-graduation outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $39,400, ranking in the top 50% nationally for this population.
Compared to peer institutions, Santa Monica College graduates earn $15,431 less annually, reflecting the community college model's focus on access over premium earnings outcomes.
