Student Support

Housing

 

Housing in the Santa Monica area

Welcome to Santa Monica! Comfortable, secure housing is an important concern for our international students. Although SMC does not have a student dormitory, the International Education Center, on the 3rd Floor of SMC’s Student Services Building, is happy to assist our F1 visa students with the many housing options available in the area.

Because Santa Monica is a desirable beach destination with a world-renowned vibrant community, housing options tend to be on the more expensive side. Don’t worry! Neighboring locales like West Los Angeles, Sawtelle, Mar Vista and Westwood are all within an easy commute and offer a large array of less expensive accommodations.

Please remember that securing housing is your responsibility and that it is essential to choose a neighborhood that is both safe and close to SMC. Los Angeles has some of the busiest traffic in the US, and professors can drop students who arrive late, especially during the first week of school. It is best not to choose a location like West Hollywood or Koreatown – they may be cheap but involve a very difficult commute even if you have a car. On the left of this page you will find a variety of different resources to assist you with your housing needs while you are studying at SMC.