Coastline Community College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Coastline Community College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (9,008 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Coastline 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: Coastline Community College 39:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Coastline Community College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline 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 Coastline Community College than Smith Chason College ($16,972 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 6.6% lower than at Coastline Community College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Smith Chason College is 1,295.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastline Community College (about $17,676 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64% higher at Smith Chason College than at Coastline Community College (about $7,428 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $11,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Coastline Community College (71% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 23.4% larger than aid received by Coastline Community College students ($6,731 vs. $5,455).

Coastline Community College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline 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 Coastline Community College.

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

Coastline Community College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline 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 $15,600 more per year than Coastline Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have a $14,750 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($5,250 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have an estimated $152 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($54 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastline Community College 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.