
Santa Monica College's varsity teams compete as the Corsairs in California community college athletics, including the California Community College Athletic Association. Conference and scheduling arrangements can differ by sport, so the current athletics roster is the best guide to a particular team.
Reported offerings include basketball, cross-country, football, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo, alongside cheerleading. Varsity participation is distinct from informal recreation or a student-run sports club: teams have eligibility rules, coaches and competitive schedules. Prospective athletes should ask the relevant program about tryouts, academic eligibility and the current season rather than assuming that every listed sport has the same participation process.
Santa Monica College students can participate in Associated Students government and recognized clubs coordinated through its student-organization system. These provide routes to campus decision-making and to activities organized around academic interests, culture, service and recreation.
Examples of involvement include discipline-related and cultural clubs, performing-arts groups, and student journalism through The Corsair newspaper. Club rosters can change as students graduate, so an organization's listing is more useful than assuming it meets every term. Students who want to start a group should check the current recognition and adviser requirements with the office overseeing student activities.
Santa Monica College enrolls a large undergraduate population with varied educational goals and ages. Reported enrollment is 23,453 students, including 5,291 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 1,534 students transferring in.
Students ages 18 or 19 form the largest reported age group, but the college also enrolls teenagers taking college classes and substantial numbers of adults returning to school. About 12% of students are reported as coming from foreign countries. Reported racial and ethnic counts include 8,783 Hispanic or Latino students, 5,559 White students, 1,962 Black or African American students and 1,760 Asian students; those counts should be read in the context of their reporting source rather than used to make assumptions about individual experiences.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 27 to 1. That institution-wide figure does not predict the size of a particular lab, lecture or discussion section, so students with specific learning needs should look at course formats and support options.
Everyday life at Santa Monica College is shaped more by classes, commuting and scheduled activities than by residence-hall life. Students can connect through organizations, arts programming, athletics and events, but may need to plan those activities around work and travel.
SMC reports a health clinic, personal or psychological counseling and other student support services. Academic advising and orientation are particularly useful for students navigating prerequisites or a transfer plan for the first time. Because classes and programs use multiple locations, the most convenient gathering spaces and services may depend on where a student's courses meet.
The Santa Monica College Library is the college's main academic library. It supports coursework through study space, research materials and help with finding and evaluating sources.
Students can use library catalogs and licensed digital resources, including materials useful for research assignments. Access conditions for online databases, equipment, borrowing and research assistance may differ for current students and visitors. Students who need a quiet room, accessible technology or a resource held elsewhere should check the library's current services and hours before making a trip.
Total enrollment
23453Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
3351Member of Athletic Associations
NJCAATotal staff
350 full time, 858 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross-country running
Football
Soccer
Swimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Water polo
Data last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.