Berkeley City College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

Compare Berkeley City College in Berkeley, CA with Smith Chason College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berkeley City College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (6,278 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berkeley City College is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berkeley City College 33:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Berkeley City College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berkeley City College or Smith Chason College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Berkeley City College than Smith Chason College ($12,695 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 3.2% lower than at Berkeley City College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Smith Chason College is 1,413.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berkeley City College (about $17,782 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.4% higher at Smith Chason College than at Berkeley City College (about $9,142 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Berkeley City College than at Smith Chason College (74% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 24.1% larger than aid received by Berkeley City College students ($6,731 vs. $5,422).

Berkeley City College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berkeley City College or Smith Chason College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Smith Chason College and Berkeley City College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berkeley City College - Open admission; Smith Chason College - Open admission.

Berkeley City College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berkeley City College and Smith Chason College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Smith Chason College earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than Berkeley City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berkeley City College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 35%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.