Columbia Junior College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (2,828 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Columbia Junior College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior 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 Columbia College than Smith Chason College ($12,358 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Columbia College and Smith Chason College ($22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,385.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia Junior College (about $17,758 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,282.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.5% higher at Smith Chason College than at Columbia College (about $9,776 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Smith Chason College (74% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 10% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($6,731 vs. $6,119).

Columbia Junior College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior 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 Columbia Junior College.

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

Columbia Junior College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior 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 $25,800 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $30,400), 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.