City College of San Francisco vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

City College of San Francisco is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco than Smith Chason College ($9,616 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 17.9% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($22,086 vs. $26,907).
• Smith Chason College is 1,022.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of San Francisco (about $17,344 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,696.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.9% higher at Smith Chason College than at City College of San Francisco (about $4,384 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $14,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at City College of San Francisco (71% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 8.7% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($7,318 vs. $6,731).

City College of San Francisco vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 $15,200 more per year than City College of San Francisco graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have a $11,750 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($8,250 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($85 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of San Francisco students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 39%)

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.