Foothill College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Foothill College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Foothill College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College than Smith Chason College ($10,805 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Smith Chason College ($20,793 vs. $22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,116.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Foothill College (about $17,475 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,565.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.2% higher at Smith Chason College than at Foothill College (about $6,450 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $12,590.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Foothill College (71% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 59.4% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,731 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Smith Chason College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Foothill College graduates have a $11,028 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($8,972 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Foothill College graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($92 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

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.