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Santa Monica Looff HippodromeSanta Monica Looff Hippodrome · Photo: Richard Wang took this photo and has released it under the GDFL. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Santa Monica

Santa Monica is home to three colleges, with about 15,000 students on campus

Santa Monica College (14,294 students on campus) and Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine (181) are inside the city. About 6% of Santa Monica’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Santa Monica College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Santa Monica. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
42
193,354 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
RAND School of Public Policy
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
Santa Monica College · $1,156 tuition
Nearest public university
1.7 mi
Santa Monica College · $1,156 in-state
Median household income
$115K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Santa Monica

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in Santa MonicaSanta Monica College has 14,294 students on campus in Santa Monica, 36% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Santa Monica CollegeLiving in California, Santa Monica College charges $1,156 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,708. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Monica

33 private colleges within 14.9 miles, one public college within 5.3 miles, and 11 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaEl Camino Community College DistrictSanta Monica
University or collegeCommunity college
RAND School of Public PolicyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 126 on campus · In Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 181 on campus · In Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Santa Monica CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,294 on campus · In Santa Monica$3knet price36%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Yo San University of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 124 on campus · 3.4 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Mount Saint Mary's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,219 on campus · 5.2 mi · Los Angeles73%admitted$21knet price53%graduate$72kearningsUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 46,029 on campus · 5.3 mi · Los Angeles9%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$83kearningsLoyola Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,533 on campus · 5.5 mi · Los Angeles45%admitted$48knet price79%graduate$78kearningsOtis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,284 on campus · 6 mi · Los Angeles82%admitted$51knet price66%graduate$58kearningsWest Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,805 on campus · 6.4 mi · Culver City · mostly online$10knet price28%graduate$39kearnings70% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Antioch University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 888 on campus · 6.7 mi · Culver City$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Spartan College of Aeronautics & TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 319 on campus · 7.9 mi · Inglewood$33knet price64%graduate$62kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.University of West Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 256 on campus · 8.6 mi · InglewoodCasa Loma College-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 571 on campus · 10.1 mi · Sherman Oaks43%admitted$28knet price73%graduate$50kearningsYeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 157 on campus · 10.1 mi · Los Angeles58%admitted$15knet price12%graduate$48kearningsAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 169 on campus · 10.6 mi · Los AngelesMusicians InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 666 on campus · 11.1 mi · Hollywood78%admitted$47knet price53%graduate$33kearningsLos Angeles Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,566 on campus · 11.4 mi · Hollywood · mostly online$31knet price41%graduate$32kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.CBD CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 824 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los Angeles$23knet price82%graduate$37kearningsSmith Chason CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,221 on campus · 11.7 mi · Los Angeles$34knet price72%graduate$58kearningsAngeles CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 493 on campus · 11.9 mi · Los Angeles$29knet price93%graduate$49kearningsPepperdine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,741 on campus · 12.1 mi · Malibu63%admitted$58knet price83%graduate$83kearningsLos Angeles Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,750 on campus · 12.2 mi · Valley Glen · mostly online$12knet price32%graduate$43kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · 12.3 mi · Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsLos Angeles Southwest CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,754 on campus · 12.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$6knet price34%graduate$32kearnings67% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Southwestern Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 950 on campus · 12.5 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles Pierce CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,928 on campus · 12.7 mi · Woodland Hills$13knet price46%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.American Career College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,066 on campus · 12.7 mi · Los Angeles$32knet price75%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.American Film Institute ConservatoryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 389 on campus · 12.7 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.West Coast University-Center for Graduate StudiesUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · 12.8 mi · Los Angeles$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,569 on campus · 12.9 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$10knet price29%graduate$36kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.El Camino Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 15,562 on campus · 13 mi · Torrance$6knet price42%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,144 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · 13.2 mi · Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.GnomonUniversity or college · For-profit · 426 on campus · 13.2 mi · North Hollywood42%admitted$52knet price100%graduate$115kearningsConcorde Career College-North HollywoodUniversity or college · For-profit · 143 on campus · 13.3 mi · North Hollywood100%admitted$24knet price78%graduate$51kearningsWest Coast University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,640 on campus · 13.4 mi · North Hollywood$53knet price31%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.New York Film AcademyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,238 on campus · 13.5 mi · Burbank$39knet price68%graduate$30kearningsFIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,348 on campus · 13.8 mi · Los AngelesCalifornia College of ASUUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 136 on campus · 13.8 mi · Los AngelesThe Chicago School at Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 14.1 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online46%admitted0%graduate$57kearnings82% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.California Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 144 on campus · 14.2 mi · Canoga Park$47knet price100%graduate$52kearningsUEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · 14.6 mi · Gardena$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.National Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 360 on campus · 14.9 mi · Panorama City$28knet price74%graduate$19kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Santa Monica’s median household income ($114,885) falls.

Santa Monica CollegeIn Santa Monica · sticker $11,162 · tuition $1,156$8,395a year
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary10.1 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $31,300$10,300a year
El Camino Community College District13 mi · Torrance · sticker $15,246 · tuition $1,144$12,869a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical College13.2 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$17,270a year
Mount Saint Mary's University5.2 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $66,726$18,762a year
Los Angeles Pierce College12.7 mi · Woodland Hills · sticker $21,400 · tuition $1,238$18,929a year
Los Angeles Valley College12.2 mi · Valley Glen · mostly online · sticker $20,546 · tuition $1,238$20,546a year
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood13.3 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $28,621$26,608a year
University of California-Los Angeles5.3 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $38,614$29,682a year
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles10.1 mi · Sherman Oaks · sticker $32,018$32,018a year
UEI College-Gardena14.6 mi · Gardena · sticker $34,105$34,105a year
National Career College14.9 mi · Panorama City · sticker $34,495$34,325a year
American Career College-Los Angeles12.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $37,270$37,270a year
Los Angeles Film School11.4 mi · Hollywood · mostly online · sticker $38,291$37,462a year
Smith Chason College11.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,461$39,299a year
New York Film Academy13.5 mi · Burbank · sticker $62,210$44,247a year
Musicians Institute11.1 mi · Hollywood · sticker $52,369$51,119a year
Gnomon13.2 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $54,947$54,947a year
West Coast University-Los Angeles13.4 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $55,938$55,938a year
University of Southern California12.3 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$56,116a year
Loyola Marymount University5.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $83,943$58,371a year
Otis College of Art and Design6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $75,861$60,718a year
Pepperdine University12.1 mi · Malibu · sticker $93,512$65,081a year
West Los Angeles College6.4 mi · Culver City · mostly online · sticker $17,336 · tuition $1,238—a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology7.9 mi · Inglewood · sticker $39,104—a year
CBD College11.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $28,569—a year
Angeles College11.9 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $33,854—a year
Los Angeles Southwest College12.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $13,624 · tuition $1,238—a year
Los Angeles City College12.9 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $18,924 · tuition $1,238—a year
California Career College14.2 mi · Canoga Park · sticker $46,880—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Santa Monica: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Santa Monica CollegeUniversity of California-Los AngelesLoyola Marymount UniversityUniversity of Southern CaliforniaEl Camino Community College DistrictLos Angeles Trade Technical College
University of California-Los Angeles93% graduate$83k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k typical debt
El Camino Community College District42% graduate$42k earnings
Santa Monica College36% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
Loyola Marymount University79% graduate$78k earnings$20k typical debt
Los Angeles Trade Technical College35% graduate$35k earnings$10k typical debt
Los Angeles Pierce College46% graduate$45k earnings$13k typical debt
Los Angeles Valley College32% graduate$43k earnings$10k typical debt
Pepperdine University83% graduate$83k earnings$24k typical debt
Los Angeles City College29% graduate$36k earnings$13k typical debt
West Los Angeles College28% graduate$39k earnings$14k typical debt
West Coast University-Los Angeles31% graduate$103k earnings*$33k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology (2); American Career College-Los Angeles (2); West Coast University-Los Angeles (6); The Chicago School at Los Angeles (8); UEI College-Gardena (5).

Majors

What students study in Santa Monica

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Santa Monica College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 49%Interdisciplinary 11%Business 9%Visual & performing arts 6%Social sciences 5%Family sciences 3%Everything else 16%

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Santa Monica

Is Santa Monica a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Santa Monica residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, Santa Monica College, has 14,294 students on campus.

What colleges are in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica College, Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine and RAND School of Public Policy are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Santa Monica, and what does it cost?

Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, 1.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $2,779, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Santa Monica College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year in-state and $10,708 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $1,896 (under $30,000 income) to $8,395 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Santa Monica. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →