SMC Promise

Free Enrollment and Textbooks!

Welcome to SMC Promise!

The Santa Monica College Promise (SMCP) program offers free enrollment, an SMC student ID, and a collection of services and benefits for first-time college students who recently graduated from a California high school (or completed a high school equivalency test such as GED® or HiSET or CPP).

You may be eligible to receive SMC Promise benefits for up to two (2) consecutive years if you meet and maintain the SMCP requirements. Click the buttons below to find out about the program's perks and benefits, eligibility requirements, and an informative Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.

Check Your Eligibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Priority Enrollment, & Free Enrollment/Fees

If you're a very recent graduate from a California high school (or recently completed a high school equivalency test such as GED® or HiSET or CPP) and you enroll at SMC as a new full-time student (12 units or more per semester/DSPS Unit Reduction), you may be eligible for the SMC Promise program, which offers a number of student benefits and covers enrollment and many other fees — a value of up to $3,000 over two years!

The SMC Promise program offers:

Priority enrollment, so you can sign up early for your classes;
Free enrollment in 12 or more units per semester;
Free SMC student ID;
Exemption from paying selected fees, including:
- Health Services fee;
- Student Benefits fee (which includes rides at no extra cost on all Big Blue Bus and Metro lines and trains);
- Associated Students (A.S.) Resource fee (which provides A.S. membership and funds programs and initiatives such as clubs, basic needs, student government, academic support, student leadership, sustainability efforts, and other campus activities); and
- Student Representation fee (which provides support for student government representatives).

If you are meeting the SMC Promise requirements AND qualify for the CCPG Fee Waiver, you are eligible for a reduced campus parking pass of $18. You can purchase your pass at smc.edu/parking.

Textbook Vouchers

SMC Promise students who qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) (opens in new window) also qualify for a textbook voucher of up to $3,000 for the SMC Campus Store.

SMC Promise students who qualify for the textbook voucher can receive up to:
- $1000 each fall and spring semester, and
- $500 each winter and summer session.
Book vouchers may be used ONLY at the SMC Campus Store (opens in new window) (will not work for RedShelf) and ONLY during these dates:
- Spring 2025 Book Voucher Period: February 3 - May 2, 2025
To find out how to use the book voucher, watch this Book Voucher Tutorial (opens in new window) in our Promise Video Library.

SMC Student ID Card

Once you meet all of the SMC Promise eligibility requirements, you can request to receive your free SMC student ID card remotely from the Cashier's Office. Your SMC student ID will allow you to ride the Big Blue Bus for free, among other perks. Visit the ID Card Cheat Sheet to learn how to request your student ID card.

Enrollment and Student Fees

The SMC Promise program will cover your enrollment fees and your Health Services, Student Benefits, Associated Students (A.S.) Resource, and Student Representation fees if you meet the requirements by:

2025 Spring Semester: April 27

As an SMC Promise student, you will receive an SMC Promise Fee Postponement. You will not need to pay for your fees and will not be dropped from classes for non-payment.

You must complete your unit requirement with passing grades at the end of each fall and spring semester to maintain your SMC Promise eligibility.

Important Spring 2025 Updates

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Meeting All Spring 2025 SMC Promise Eligibility Requirements

Spring 2025 fees for SMC Promise students who met all eligibility requirements on April 27, 2025, will be covered until the end of the semester. You WILL BE ABLE TO ENROLL in the 2025 summer session and/or fall semester even if you have an outstanding balance.
The short-term summer/winter sessions are optional to attend. If you do attend, you must meet and complete the SMC Promise requirements to receive the benefits.

Dropped Below 12 Units/DSPS Unit Requirement After April 27, 2025

Students who drop below 12 units (or the DSPS unit requirement) after April 27, 2025, may potentially qualify for the SMC Promise Regain Eligibility by making up units during the subsequent 2025 summer session.
Please be sure to review the Regain Eligibility examples at SMC Promise Eligibility - Santa Monica College. Or you may email the Welcomecenter@smc.edu to find out how to maintain or regain your SMC Promise.

Not Meeting Spring 2025 Eligibility Requirements

Students who did not meet the SMC Promise requirements during spring 2025 may become ineligible for the program for future terms and will owe fees.
If you do not qualify to Regain Eligibility or if you have an extenuating circumstance, please send an email to Welcomecenter@smc.edu (opens in new window) to request SMC Promise Special Consideration.

SMC Promise Refunds

As long as you are meeting and maintaining your SMCP requirements through April 27, 2025, and complete your unit requirements with passing grades, you may potentially qualify for a refund AFTER the term has ended.
If you have questions about your refund, please email the Welcomecenter@smc.edu

Note: SMC has partnered with BankMobile to process refunds through BankMobile Disbursements (opens in new window) . Visit SMC and BankMobile Disbursements for more information about refund options.