SMC #1 in UC Transfers for 35 Years, #1 to USC, LMU & Columbia Outside of NY

Santa Monica College #1 in UC Transfers for 35 Consecutive Years

SMC Also Maintained No. 1 Spot for African American & Latinx UC Transfers, and Top Spot in Transfers to USC & Loyola Marymount University; Still Leading Transfer College to Columbia University, Outside of New York

SANTA MONICA, CA—Santa Monica College (SMC) has maintained a streak as the No.1 transfer college to the University of California (UC) system for 35 straight years, per 2024-2025 transfer data released by the UC Information Center. SMC sent 995 students to UC campuses in the prior academic year.

SMC also continued to be the leader for African American and Latinx transfers to the UC and is still the leading transfer college to the University of Southern California (USC) and Loyola Marymount University (LMU). In addition, SMC held steady onto another longstanding transfer record—as top feeder outside of New York to the Ivy League Columbia University.

Here are some highlights from SMC’s 2024-2025 transfer numbers:

• Among the 995 SMC students who transferred to UC campuses were 214 Latinx students and 59 African American students. UCLA is still the most popular campus among SMC transfers, with 437 students headed to the Westwood campus; UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara ranked second and third, with 162 and 112 SMC transfer students respectively.
• Annual data showed that SMC had more students enrolled at USC and Loyola Marymount University than any other community college with 126 and 90 respectively of admitted SMC transfers, making the decision to enroll. 

• SMC ranked fourth in total combined transfers to the UC and California State University (CSU) systems, with 1,991 students combined heading to UC and CSU campuses.
• The college’s transfer record reaches across the nation—to the Ivy League Columbia University. Maintaining its long-time record of sending more transfer students to Columbia University than any other community college outside of New York, 23 SMC students (out of 41 admitted) enrolled at the Ivy League institution in fall 2025. 
  
  

“SMC celebrates another landmark year as the leading California community college transferring students to the University of California, as well as to USC and Loyola Marymount University—we are all so proud of this accomplishment!” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery. “It is a testament to the limitless potential of our focused and motivated students and to the dedication of everyone who helps guide, teach, encourage, and inspire them on their road to success—congratulations to each of them!”

In a similar vein, SMC Transfer center faculty leader Dr. Janet Robinson expressed her sincere appreciation “to the entire SMC campus community, including our amazing students, for the latest transfer achievements.” “As these students transfer on to four-year institutions, I hope their SMC experience is never forgotten and continues to unlock doors and opportunities for years to come,” Dr. Robinson added.

Each fall, among many such activities, the SMC Transfer Center hosts a Fall College Fair, with 120 colleges and universities including six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) taking part in Fall 2024. In Spring 2025, SMC also hosted an inaugural Nursing School Panel and Resource Fair, with participation from UCLA, Mount St. Mary’s College, Charles R. Drew University, and CSULA.

The Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAGs) offered at SMC provide guaranteed admission for students who meet specific requirements to several universities including six University of California campuses, Loyola Marymount University, Arizona State University (ASU), and many HBCUs, among others.

The Scholars Program is a distinctive academic community within the larger SMC community whose aim is to prepare students—particularly freshman, first-generation college students, students from underserved schools and communities, and non-traditional students—for transfer to the colleges and universities of their choice. The program’s focus is on academic preparation and study for university-level work through writing, exposure to research, critical thinking, and analysis, along with intensive counseling and support.

Through special transfer agreements with top four-year colleges and universities, Scholars students get priority consideration for admissions to the following campuses: The UCLA College, the Luskin Public Affairs major and the Education and Social Transformation major (TAP), UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, Chapman University, University of San Francisco, and Pomona College, to name a few.

For more information about SMC’s Transfer Center and its services, please visit smc.edu/transfer or email Robinson_Janet@smc.edu.

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About Santa Monica College: 

Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Historically a Hispanic-Serving Institution, in December 2025 SMC was also designated a Black-Serving Institution following the implementation of SB 1348. For 35 consecutive years, SMC has been California’s leading transfer college to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and other University of California campuses. The college also tops in transfers to the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University and is the top feeder outside of New York to the Ivy League Columbia University. As the leading job trainer in Los Angeles’s Westside, the college offers robust career education opportunities, with over 110 degrees and certificates in traditional and emerging fields. SMC provides news and cultural enrichment through its NPR radio station KCRW (89.9 FM), the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, and lifelong learning through distinctive programs such as its Emeritus Program for older adults.