By Lookout Staff

December 17, 2024 -- For the 34th consecutive year, Santa Monica College (SMC) transferred more students to the University of California (UC) system than any other community college in the state.

SMC sent 983 students to UC campuses in the 2023-2024 academic year and maintained its top spot for Black and Latino transfers, according to data released by the UC Information Center.

It also continues to be the leading transfer college to the University of Southern California (USC) with 129 students and Loyola Marymount University (LMU) with 358.

In addition, it remained the top feeder school west of the Mississippi to Columbia University with 25 students headed to the Ivy League school in New York.

Of the 938 transfer students, 217 were Latino and 84 Black, the data show. UCLA remained the most popular destination with 451 students headed to the Westwood campus, followed by UC Berkeley with 133 transfers.

“Each year, we eagerly await these statistics,” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery in a statement Monday. “Once again, we celebrate Santa Monica College’s longstanding record of excellence in transfers.

"Congratulations to all the students who made the transition to a four-year institution this past academic year, and thank you to each member of the college community who had a hand in guiding and mentoring them!”

Dr. Janet Robinson, the college’s Transfer Center Faculty Leader said it takes collaboration for the "exciting and overwhelming" transfer process to be a success.

“The SMC campus community continues to come together, year-round, in various ways to support students whose goal is to transfer," Robinson said.

This includes providing resources and activities to teach students about their transfer options and "help demystify the process,” she said.

This year, the SMC Transfer Center hosted a Fall College Fair in October attended by 173 four-year institutions that included several events highlighting the transfer process to Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).

The college also held its annual Transferpalooza event that offers students "personalized feedback" on their transfer applications and personal statements before they are submitted.

In addition. the Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAGs) offered at SMC provide guaranteed admission for students who meet specific requirements to several universities, including six University of California campuses, Loyola Marymount University, Arizona State University (ASU), and many HBCUs, among others.

Minority students also receive help from the Scholars Program, which prepares them to transfer "to the colleges and universities of their choice," SMC officials said.

The program focuses on helping freshman, first-generation college students, students from under-served schools and communities, and non-traditional students prepare for university-level work, officials said.

According to UC Information Center data, SMC ranked fourth in total combined transfers to the UC and California State University (CSU) systems with 2,054 students.

For more information about SMC’s Transfer Center and its services, visit smc.edu/transfer or email Robinson_Janet@smc.edu