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Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California · Public college · Training programs available:
Address: 1900 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405 · Phone: (310) 434-4000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Santa Monica College is a public trade and career school in Santa Monica, California offering cosmetology programs, accredited by ACCJC and ACEN.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the state average completion rate is 64.2%, median graduate debt is $6,450, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,193; this campus's own completion rate is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Santa Monica College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 25.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 199 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Santa Monica College is a public trade and career school located in Santa Monica, California, in a small city setting. The campus participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help cover costs. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and, for its nursing programs, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The school's most notable trade offering is its cosmetology program, which has produced 214 completers, out of a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,440 students.
Federal data show a completion rate that is not reported for this campus, compared with a state average completion rate of 64.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $6,450, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $42,193. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 25.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of low-income enrollment.
This campus may suit students interested in a cosmetology career path, though specific program lengths are not reported here, so applicants should confirm schedule and format directly with the school. Adult or career-changer fit cannot be determined from the data provided. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and review full outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Santa Monica College's primary trade program family is cosmetology schools, with 214 completers reported. No other trade program families are listed in the data.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and its nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's completion rate is not reported in federal data. The state average completion rate is 64.2%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not available.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates of this campus carry a median debt of $6,450, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $42,193 per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (310) 434-4000 or visit https://www.smc.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Santa Monica College is a public institution, which can affect tuition rates and eligibility for certain state-based aid programs.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school to confirm the duration of its cosmetology program.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and review full outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?122977.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements after completing a program are not reported in this data; contact the school for details specific to cosmetology licensure in California.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Santa Monica College at (310) 434-4000 or through its website at https://www.smc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in the federal data provided; check the College Scorecard for similar institutions in the area.
Nearby trade and career schools in California
- Dallas Skin InstituteSanta Monica, CA · state-licensed school
- Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA · 35% completion
- Butte CollegeOroville, CA · 45% completion
- MTI CollegeSacramento, CA · 77% completion
- Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA · 37% completion
- Advance Beauty CollegeGarden Grove, CA · 67% completion
- Asian-American International Beauty CollegeWestminster, CA · 90% completion
- Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA · 31% completion
See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.