Community College Library · Los Angeles County · Santa Monica
Santa Monica College to UC: Honors Program and International Admission
Santa Monica College is in western Los Angeles County, runs an honors program called the Scholars Program, and is a UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member. The college has no student housing, so international students must arrange their own accommodation.
- Book a community college transfer consultation
- Semester calendar
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member
- Scholars Program
- 1,470 admitted to UC in 2024-25 ↓
- International tuition per unit
- $486 (fall 2026 through summer 2027)
- Fall deadline for applicants abroad (2026 reference)
- July 15
- Proof of funds
- $34,000 (fall 2026 through spring 2027)
- Application fee
- $75, nonrefundable
- UCLA fall 2025 transfer profile
- 1,859 applicants, 34% admit rate, GPA 3.74 to 4.00
SMC to UC: ten years of transfer data
- UC applicants, 2024-25
- 1,922
- Admitted to UC
- 1,470
- Admit rate
- 76.5%
- Change in applicants since 2015-16
- −12%
- UC applicants
- Admitted
- Admit rate
- 2025-26 fall only
According to the UC Information Center, 1,922 Santa Monica College students applied to UC in 2024-25, and 1,470 were admitted to at least one campus, 76.5% of applicants; 1,010 enrolled at UC. The campuses that admitted the most students that year were UC Santa Barbara (858), UC San Diego (723), UC Irvine (582). Compared with 2,181 applicants in 2015-16, that is a decrease of 12%. For 2025-26, only fall data are available so far: 2,069 applied and 1,607 were admitted, which cannot be compared directly with the earlier full-year figures.
UC campus comparison, 2024-25
| Campus | Applicants | Admitted | Admit rate | Enrolled | Average GPA of admitted students | Ten-year admissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC systemwide | 1,922 | 1,470 | 76.5% | 1,010 | 3.61 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | 1,177 | 858 | 72.9% | 112 | 3.68 | |
| UC San Diego | 1,075 | 723 | 67.3% | 162 | 3.67 | |
| UC Irvine | 1,150 | 582 | 50.6% | 94 | 3.72 | |
| UCLA | 1,716 | 547 | 31.9% | 438 | 3.82 | |
| UC Davis | 581 | 387 | 66.6% | 33 | 3.66 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 527 | 365 | 69.3% | 35 | 3.48 | |
| UC Riverside | 530 | 331 | 62.5% | 29 | 3.45 | |
| UC Berkeley | 1,101 | 238 | 21.6% | 103 | 3.72 | |
| UC Merced | 152 | 101 | 66.4% | 4 | 3.37 |
Admit rates are calculated from student counts. UC does not publish categories with fewer than five students; these appear as "—" in the table. GPA is the UC-calculated GPA in transferable courses. Campus names link to the corresponding transfer guides. Source: UC Infocenter · Admissions by source school (visualizedata.ucop.edu, AdmissionsDataTable transfer view), retrieved 2026-09-27.
Santa Monica College (SMC) is a community college on the semester system in the city of Santa Monica, in western Los Angeles County. After completing transfer coursework there, students can apply to transfer to the University of California (UC). SMC admits international students on F-1 visas, offers an honors program called the Scholars Program, and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). For students whose main goal is UCLA and who are prepared to rent their own housing in Los Angeles, transferring from SMC to UCLA is a common choice. The data section below shows how SMC students have transferred to each UC campus.
Transfer support and honors programs
Scholars Program: completion requirements
- Complete at least 15 units of Scholars courses
- Take at least three of these courses (9 units) at SMC
- Remain a member of the Scholars Program for at least two semesters
- Meet with a Scholars Program counselor once each semester
The actual average admit GPA is UC Information Center data for SMC students in 2024-25; an average is not an admission cutoff. Further reading: UCLA Transfer Alliance Program, How transfer GPA is calculated.
UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)SMC is on UCLA's official list of member colleges. To receive TAP certification, students must complete the 15 Scholars units over at least two semesters by the end of the fall term of the year they apply to transfer. TAP students who are not admitted to their first-choice major are also considered for an alternate major. Beginning in May 2026, students who attend a community college for only one year cannot receive TAP certification.
Transfer CenterProvides counseling and educational planning, hosts workshops such as Transfer 101 and college fairs, invites university representatives to campus, and provides information on transfer agreements such as the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).
International student admission
Fall 2026 through summer 2027. The application fee is $75 and is nonrefundable.
International application periods
- Fall admission2026 reference: deadline July 15
- Spring admission2026 reference: deadline January 5
SMC has not yet published its 2027 deadlines; the dates above are the 2026 dates and are provided for reference. For students already in the United States in F-1 status, the fall 2026 deadline is August 1. Application review usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
English proficiency (any one)
- 45TOEFL iBT
- 5.0IELTS
- 75Duolingo
The English requirements come from the college document revised June 28, 2024. The latest notice from the college's international student office takes precedence.
I-20 proof of funds$34,000Fall 2026 through spring 2027, covering tuition, fees, living expenses, books, and personal expenses.
- International students must enroll in at least 12 units each semester to maintain F-1 status.
Further reading: I-20 and visa, Annual budget, English and math placement.
Academic calendar and course planning
Semester calendar: fall and spring are the two main terms, and the units are already semester units, so no conversion is needed. The 15 Scholars units must be completed by the end of fall of the year the student applies to transfer and must span at least two semesters. On a two-year transfer timeline, students should begin Scholars courses no later than spring of the first year.
Further reading: The 7-course pattern, Cal-GETC general education courses.
Housing and transportation
- ✕On-campus housing
- SMC states that it has no student housing and that students must arrange their own accommodation.
- Off-campus housing
- The college housing page provides a rental guide, information on leases and roommates, and housing search resources.
- Transportation
- Students who pay the $22.50 per-semester student benefits fee can obtain a GoPass for unlimited rides on 20 Los Angeles-area transit systems, including Big Blue Bus and Los Angeles Metro bus and rail lines. The 17th Street station on the Metro E Line is about a 10-minute walk from the main campus.
Further reading: Housing and homestays.
EDUBUS advice
- When choosing a college
SMC has no student housing, so international students should include the cost of renting in West Los Angeles in their budget.
- Before applying
The SMC English requirements document was revised in 2024. Before applying, students should confirm the current standards with the international student office.
- First year
The Scholars Program requires 15 units completed by the end of fall of the transfer application year, spanning at least two semesters. Students aiming for UCLA should apply to join in the first year to avoid overloading their second-year schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to transfer from Santa Monica College to UCLA?
The UCLA fall 2025 transfer profile shows that 1,859 SMC students applied to UCLA, with an admit rate of 34%. The 25th to 75th percentile GPA of admitted students was 3.74 to 4.00. Students who complete the Scholars Program and receive TAP certification receive priority consideration at UCLA, but admission is not guaranteed.
What is the tuition for international students at Santa Monica College?
SMC states that for fall 2026 through summer 2027, international students pay a total of $486 per unit: $416 in nonresident tuition, a $24 nonresident surcharge, and a $46 enrollment fee. For the 2026-27 academic year, the bank statement used as proof of funds must show at least $34,000.
Does Santa Monica College have student housing?
No. SMC states that it has no student housing and that students must arrange their own accommodation. The college housing page provides a rental guide, information on leases and roommates, and housing search resources.
What does the SMC Scholars Program require for UCLA TAP?
Students must complete at least 15 units of Scholars courses, including at least three courses (9 units) taken at SMC. To apply for TAP certification, students must complete these 15 units by the end of the fall term of the year they apply to transfer and must be in the program for at least two semesters.
Sources and Verification Date11 official sources · Last checked September 27, 2026
- Admissions by source school, transfer data (UC Infocenter, retrieved 2026-09-27)universityofcalifornia.edu
- Apply to SMC: International F1/F2 Students (Santa Monica College)smc.edu
- International Student Tuition & Fees (Santa Monica College)smc.edu
- SMC Proof of English Proficiency for F-1 Visa Applicants (Santa Monica College, revised June 28, 2024)smc.edu
- SMC Scholars Program Requirements (Santa Monica College)smc.edu
- General Counseling/Transfer Services (Santa Monica College)smc.edu
- Housing Support (Santa Monica College)smc.edu
- Buses and Trains (Santa Monica College)smc.edu
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Profile by Community College (UCLA, fall 2025)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer basic requirements (UC Admissions)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
Campus photo: Michael Oh, 2011, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Admission rules, tuition, deadlines, and visa policies change every year. Before applying, confirm the current information published by the college and the relevant official agencies.
