SMC Leads in Transfers to UC for 28th Year

SMC Leads in Transfers to University of California for 28th Consecutive Year

With All-Time High in UC Transfers, College Also Maintains #1 Spot for Transfers to USC & Loyola Marymount University

“I congratulate Santa Monica College on transferring yet again a record-high number of students to the University of California... Year after year, we are continually impressed by Santa Monica College’s efforts to academically prepare students...”

— UC Interim Associate Vice President and Director of Undergraduate Admissions Han Mi Yoon-Wu.

SANTA MONICA, CA—Santa Monica College (SMC) sent more students to the University of California (UC) system than any other California community college, for the 28th straight year, transfer data for the 2017-2018 academic year released recently by the UC Information Center showed.

In 2017-2018, SMC sent 1,289 students to UC campuses—an all-time high for the college. The No. 2 and No. 3 feeder colleges both sent 938 students. SMC also held the top spot for the number of African-American and Hispanic students who headed to UC campuses: 54 and 199 respectively.

“I congratulate Santa Monica College on transferring yet again a record-high number of students to the University of California,” said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, UC’s interim associate vice president and director of undergraduate admissions. “The university is strongly committed to the success of transfer students and recognizes their hard work and tenacity in getting admitted to UC. Year after year, we are continually impressed by Santa Monica College’s efforts to academically prepare students and appreciate the strong collaboration between UC and the California Community Colleges.”

In addition to maintaining its place as No. 1 in transfers to the University of California, SMC also transferred more students to the University of Southern California (USC) and Loyola Marymount University (LMU) than any other college. Here are some additional SMC transfer highlights:

• SMC sent 146 students to the University of Southern California (USC) in fall 2018 (USC reports transfers only for the fall). This was the largest number of transfers from any California community college or “sending institutions”. The No. 2 sending institution sent 70 students.

• Fall 2018 data showed once again that SMC continues to be the top transfer college to Loyola Marymount University. Of the 469 students who transferred to LMU in fall 2018, 98 students were from SMC (the second-ranking feeder school sent 28 students).

• Santa Monica College came in at a close second for total combined transfers to the California State University (CSU) and UC campuses with 2,461 transfers to both of California’s public four-year universities. The top-ranking college had 2,553 transfers.

“Each year, we await these numbers eagerly,” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, “and we are so proud to see how the sincere commitment and deep investment Santa Monica College makes in supporting each student’s success—through unparalleled classroom instruction, hands-on counseling support, and a campus culture that tells students “Yes, you can!”—continues to show rich rewards. Again, we celebrate the accomplishment of SMC students who transfer seamlessly to four-year colleges and universities, and thank everyone who has been a part of their academic pathway!”

Janet Robinson, who heads SMC’s Transfer Center, stated that one reason for the increase of SMC transfer numbers was the University of California’s focus on growing the number of community college students across the UC system.

“SMC’s strong transfer numbers are what they are because of a campus-wide culture and commitment to transfer,” said Robinson. “This college offers a plethora of transfer-related activities—workshops, weekly visits to campus by university representatives, and our once-a-semester amazing college fairs.”

SMC’s Transfer Center holds the largest college fair in California—the Fall 2018 College Fair held Oct. 9 at the main campus on 1900 Pico Blvd. featured a total of 173 U.S. and international colleges and universities and a couple SMC programs. The Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAGs) offered at SMC provide guaranteed admission for students who meet specific requirements to several universities including Loyola Marymount University, Arizona State University (ASU), and many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), among others.

In addition, SMC’s distinctive Scholars Program prepares enrolled and eligible students for the rigor of upper-division coursework, providing smaller classes by highly recommended faculty, intensive counseling and academic support. Scholars students receive priority consideration for admissions through special transfer agreements with The UCLA College of Letters and Science (Transfer Alliance Program), UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, to name a few.

This past academic year, SMC also became the first California community college to have a dedicated onsite transfer services program manager from Arizona State University, for students who are interested in transferring to the university or who are concurrently enrolled in an online ASU program.

Per UC data, UCLA continues to be the most popular destination for SMC students, with 504 of them—or 39 percent of UC transfers—going to the Westwood campus in Los Angeles. UC San Diego was next with 182 transfers, followed by UC Santa Barbara with 161 transfers.

Find more information about SMC’s Transfer Center and its services or email Robinson_Janet@smc.edu.

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About Santa Monica College

Founded in 1929, Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In addition to being California’s leader in transfers to the University of California system, the University of Southern California, and Loyola Marymount University, SMC also offers more than 110 career training degrees and certificates. SMC provides news and cultural enrichment through its NPR radio station KCRW (89.9 FM) and The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center as well as lifelong learning through distinctive programs such as its Emeritus Program for older adults.