Cerro Coso Community College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerro Coso Community College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (5,549 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerro Coso Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College than Smith Chason College ($20,045 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 8.7% lower than at Cerro Coso Community College ($22,086 vs. $24,192).
• Smith Chason College is 1,275.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerro Coso Community College (about $17,656 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,384.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.2% higher at Smith Chason College than at Cerro Coso Community College (about $7,786 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $11,254.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Cerro Coso Community College (71% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students ($6,731 vs. $5,464).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; Smith Chason College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community 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 $23,600 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.