Student Housing near Santa Monica College

Where is Santa Monica College Located?

The main campus of Santa Monica College (SMC) is located at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, California, offering the most classes and student services. Its main campus occupies 38 acres, and students will study in the modern buildings with advanced facilities. In addition, there is abundant greenery on and off campus, including palm trees and gardens, and the beautiful Santa Monica Beach is just 1.9 miles away. Santa Monica College also has several satellite campuses in other parts of Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, and Malibu.

What is Santa Monica College Known for?

Santa Monica College is a 2-year community college founded in 1929. It has since become one of the largest community colleges in the United States. Santa Monica College is well known for its high transfer rates to 4-year universities, particularly the University of California (US) system, including UCLA and UC Berkeley. SMC offers 200+ degrees and certificates across 90+ fields, helping students build a solid foundation for pursuing either an academic or career path. However, you may not find it in traditional world university rankings such as the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education Rankings.

Near the beautiful Santa Monica College's campus, uhomes.com can help you find your next home here to support your success in your studies. In this case, near the college's study facilities and vibrant student community, you enjoy a safe urban living experience in western Los Angeles.

Although Santa Monica College does not provide on-campus dorms. At uhomes.com, there are 837 off-campus housing options for rent near Santa Monica College to suit your budget and preferences. Select from a wide range of room types at our platform, whether you want to have full privacy and independence or enjoy sharing with roommates, you will find the best fit from studios, 1-bedroom apartments, to shared rooms or single rooms in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom apartments. You can choose your preferred room type by filtering, and save your favourite by clicking the heart at the top of the page. Following is a brief introduction of each room type:

• Studio apartments near SMC: from $800/month. Designed for single occupancy, these self-contained units gather a bedroom, living room, and kitchen, with a separate bathroom.
• 1-Bedroom apartments near SMC: from $800/month. A suite includes a separate bedroom, a living room with a kitchen, and a bathroom, suitable for either a single person or a couple.
• 2-Bedroom apartments near SMC: one room, from $700/month. It has two separate bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and at least 1 bathroom.
• 3-Bedroom apartments near SMC: one room from $600/month. It has three separate bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and at least 1 bathroom.
• 4-Bedroom apartments near SMC: starting at $600/month per room. It has four separate bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and at least 1 bathroom.
• 5+ Bedroom apartments near SMC: for one room from $600/month, it has four separate bedrooms and a living room, a kitchen, and one or more bathrooms.

uhomes.com offers a selection of the best apartments for rent near Santa Monica College, whatever "best" means to you. When considering all perspectives, the best housing for SMC students should account for factors such as commute distance to campus, safety, apartment amenities, cost, transit, and nearby convenient amenities. There are 10 best SMC housing that are considered to have a good balance of those factors you should think about, and are popular among students:

1. Millennium Santa Monica
2. Avalon Santa Monica on Main
3. Solaire Venice
4. Jefferson Flats
5. Chelsea Santa Monica
6. Villas at Playa Vista
7. 1186 W 37^th Pl
8. West Edge
9. Icon Plaza
10. AMLI Marian Del Rey

If you are on a budget and want to save when searching for affordable apartments near Santa Monica College, it will be easy with us. uhomes.com offers many affordable rentals starting at $600/month. For your reference, the average rent in Santa Monica is $3,672 per month. More than 600 properties on our website offer lower prices without sacrificing quality. To find them, set the price range to your budget in the filter, or sort the listings by lowest price. In addition, you can save more by renting shared properties, living a bit farther from campus and the city center, or enjoying exclusive benefits when you book with us. We offer early-bird discounts, referral rewards, and special offers for select properties, with up to $800 in cash back. The following are several selected Santa Monica College affordable housing options:

1. 1352 29^th
2. 1277 W 23^rd St
3. The Lorenzo
4. Victory Trio
5. 2020 Cloverfield Blvd #6
6. Bixby
7. 1922 11th St.

Many students at Santa Monica College choose to live in neighborhoods like Sunset Park, Downtown Santa Monica, Ocean Park, Mid-City Santa Monica, Pico, and West LA. These areas are popular for their student-friendly features. Here's a closer look at each one:

Close to Campus

• Sunset Park

Sunset Park is a favorite among SMC students because it's close to campus and easy to get around on foot or by bike in about 10 minutes. It's a safe, quiet place to live, ideal for studying. You'll find a variety of housing options here, and rents are typically lower than in the city center.

• Ocean Park

Ocean Park is near both the campus and the beach, so it's a good option if you want to balance school with enjoying a higher quality of life. It's especially nice for students who like sports and outdoor recreation. Moreover, Ocean Park is quiet and relaxed, with many cafes, parks, and bike paths, while rents are slightly higher than in Sunset Park.

Value for Money

• Downtown Santa Monica

Downtown Santa Monica is the heart of the city, with many bus routes that go straight to SMC and downtown LA. It's best suited for students with higher budgets who want to live in a more urban, convenient area. You'll have grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, libraries, and gyms all nearby.

More affordable

• Mid-City Santa Monica

Mid-City is in the center of Santa Monica and has a direct bus to SMC. Rents here are lower, and it's a safe place to live. It's an ideal choice if you're watching your budget but still want access to all the basic amenities.

• Pico

Living in Pico, you can take a bus directly to SMC and Downtown and enjoy lower living costs. This neighborhood has a higher proportion of students and young professionals, so it feels welcoming and inclusive.

• West Los Angeles

West LA is just east of Santa Monica and usually has lower rents than most Santa Monica neighborhoods. You can get to SMC by bus and have more options for larger apartments. West LA is a better fit if you want to save on rent and can accept a longer commute.

Living near Santa Monica College can be expensive; the yearly cost of attendance ranges between $33,072 and $42,624. However, it varies depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student, the cost of SMC housing, and your personal lifestyle. The cost of living as a Santa Monica College student is composed mainly of the following seven parts:

1. Santa Monica College off-campus housing cost: $600-$3,500+ per month, depending on the property's type, amenities, and location.
2. Tuition & fees:
   • In-state student tuition: $1,156 per academic year.
   • Out-of-state student tuition: $10,708 per academic year.
3. Books & supplies: $1,700-$2,000 per academic year.
4. Food & groceries:
   • Groceries: $300-$600 per month, depending on personal needs.
   • Eating out: about $25 per person for a meal at inexpensive restaurants.
5. Health fee:
   • For fall/spring semester: $27 per semester
   • For summer/winter session: $22 per session
   • Health insurance for international students: $2,366 per academic year
6. Transportation fee:
   • On-campus parking: $50 per semester
   • Public transit: for students who pay $22.5 Student Benefits fee per semester, are eligible for unlimited rides on 13 routes in LA.
7. Estimated personal expenses: $507 per month.

There are many options for commuting to Santa Monica College. Wherever you live in the city, you can easily go to class. The table below shows you the available transport options that you can choose from.

Santa Monica College has a lively student life that goes beyond the strict study atmosphere. The campus is in the city center, near beautiful beaches, so that students can balance their studies with the fun of the coast. With over 30,000 students from more than 100 countries, the college is a truly international, diverse, and welcoming place.

There are 60+ student clubs at SMC, ranging from academic societies such as the Science Club and Business Club to cultural organizations representing diverse backgrounds, leadership development groups, artistic clubs such as music and drama, and sports clubs including soccer and tennis. In particular, SMC's athletic team, the Corsairs, competes in basketball, swimming, and volleyball. At the same time, SMC hosts various activities and events each year, including welcome events, festivals, and other extracurricular activities. These opportunities help students reduce study stress, develop their interests, and expand their networks. Don't miss out—rent Santa Monica College student housing with uhomes.com to stay close to campus life and enjoy everything SMC has to offer.

Whether on campus or nearby, you can access a variety of amenities and resources to enhance your student life at Santa Monica College, including dining venues, retail shops, and outdoor activities. For example:

• On-campus facilities: libraries, study spaces, computer labs, cafés, student lounges, bookstores, and wellness services.
• Dining options nearby: Chipotle, Panera Bread, Shake Shack, Samo Pizza
• Student-friendly cafés: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf、Blue Bottle Coffee
• Groceries: Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market, Target, and Ralphs
• Shopping center: Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade
• Pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens
• Outdoor Recreation & Leisure: Santa Monica Beach, Palisades Park, and other nearby community parks

Santa Monica College offers 200+ courses and certificates covering 90+ fields. Several courses are popular for two main reasons: one is that many courses prepare students well for transfer to 4-year universities such as the UC system; the other is that some courses offer job skills students can apply directly to future work. List of most popular courses at SMC:

1. Business & Economics
2. Computer Science & Information Systems
3. Film, Media & Communication
4. Psychology & Social Sciences
5. Biology, Mathematics & Pre-Health Studies
6. Arts, Design & Music

Santa Monica College is located close to the beach and has easy access to downtown LA, so there are various things to do nearby when you're off from classes, from shopping, visiting landmarks, to enjoying nature. Below is a list of 10 things to do near Santa Monica College:

1. Santa Monica Beach – outdoor activities and relaxing
2. Santa Monica Pier – amusement park with ocean view
3. Third Street Promenade – shopping and entertainment
4. Santa Monica Place – shopping center
5. Palisades Park – waling trail, sunset
6. Venice Beach – street art
7. Coastal Bike Path – cycling
8. Santa Monica History Museum
9. Pacific Park
10. Visit other places nearby, like Venice, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills

For a broader range of things to do, you can explore our blogs for more: free things to do in LA on Weekends, best hikes in LA, and best independent bookstores in LA.