Santa Monica College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Santa Monica College charges a net price of $2,779/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $5,558. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,193, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $2,779/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $5,558 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,193 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $-6,167/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $6,450 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | $-128,898 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.