Cuyamaca College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Cuyamaca College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (8,905 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than Smith Chason College ($7,752 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cuyamaca College and Smith Chason College ($22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,314.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $17,694 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.3% higher at Smith Chason College than at Cuyamaca College (about $7,726 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Smith Chason College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 22.5% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($8,246 vs. $6,731).

Cuyamaca College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Cuyamaca College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 $24,300 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($4,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($46 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 36%)

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.