Cerritos College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Cerritos College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos 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 Cerritos College than Smith Chason College ($4,325 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 0% lower than at Cerritos College ($22,086 vs. $22,088).
• Smith Chason College is 1,295.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerritos College (about $17,676 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.6% higher at Smith Chason College than at Cerritos College (about $7,036 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $12,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Smith Chason College (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 13.6% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,731 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos 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 Cerritos College.

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

Cerritos College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos 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 $21,200 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($6,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $144 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($62 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos 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.