Santa Monica College believes that individuals should develop to their full potential. Our mission is to challenge and enable our students to set and achieve personal educational goals, and to understand their personal relationship to the social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and natural environments.

To fulfill this mission, the College provides open and affordable access to to excellent programs that prepare students for successful careers, develop college-level skills, enable transfer to universities for baccalaureate and advances graduate and professional education, and foster a personal commitment to lifelong learning. We prepare our students to interact with and contribute to the global community.

Santa Monica College is representative of, and sensitive to, the racial and cultural diversity of our community. We promote creativity, collaboration and the free exchange of ideas in an open, caring community of learners. We encourage continual development of our individual talents and recognize the critical importance of each person to the achievement of our common purpose.