SMC Approves Tuition Hike for Non-Resident Students

Courtesy of Santa Monica College’s Board of Trustees Meeting on Tuesday, January 16th, 2018 at SMC’s Main campus in the Business Building in room 117.

The Santa Monica College Board of Trustees approved raising the tuition for nonresident students from $355 to $370 per unit, which will be in effect for the Summer 2018 semester. For students taking upper division courses, another $84 per unit will be added to their enrollment fee.

Rob Walz, a business major at Santa Monica College, said, "I think it's unfair, especially when college students should be worrying about all their grades and whatnot. If the fees continue to increase, students will have to consider other options, like leaving school."

In addition, SMC's health insurance fee, which all nonresident students who have F1/F2 visas are required to pay, will increase from $600 to $702 starting Fall 2018. The initial insurance fee on top of the health insurance fee will also increase from $200 to $234, but this is only charged to students in their first semester at SMC.

Many students have pointed out that nonresident tuition at SMC is much higher than other local community colleges. Daiki Oka, a nonresident student, said the change will make him consider switching schools. “I am considering a transfer to El Camino College because of the cost of tuition,” he said. El Camino College's total nonresident tuition is $288 per unit, $82 less than SMC's.

The nonresident tuition fee has increased every year since 2008, except for the 2015-2016 school year. The biggest increase was seen in 2011-2012, when the total tuition, including all the mandatory fees, increased by $648.