A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at SMC are predominantly Hispanic with a sizeable White population. The school has very high racial diversity. 74% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Santa Monica College has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
26%
|
| Black |
9%
|
| Hispanic |
38%
|
| Asian |
10%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
4%
|
| International |
11%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 26% more female students than male students enrolled at Santa Monica College with a gender ratio of 56% women to 44% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, SMC has a comparable gender diversity ratio to other US colleges and is inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
44%
|
| Women |
56%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
9,905
|
| Women |
12,470
|
SMC serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 76 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
76%
|
| Out of State |
0%
|
| Foreign |
13%
|
| Unknown Location |
10%
|
37% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 28.1% |
| Part time Undergrads | 60.1% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=122977 IPEDS survey data for Santa Monica College.