DVC vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Diablo Valley College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

DVC vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 Diablo Valley College than Smith Chason College ($11,001 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 5% lower than at Diablo Valley College ($22,086 vs. $23,238).
• Smith Chason College is 1,351.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than DVC (about $17,728 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 84.5% higher at Smith Chason College than at Diablo Valley College (about $8,720 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Diablo Valley College (71% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 51.6% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($6,731 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 $11,400 more per year than DVC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith Chason College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 48%)

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.