Laney College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Laney College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (9,328 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laney College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Laney College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laney College 31:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Laney College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laney 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 Laney College than Smith Chason College ($17,741 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 3.2% lower than at Laney College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Smith Chason College is 1,413.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laney College (about $17,782 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.4% higher at Smith Chason College than at Laney College (about $9,142 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laney College than at Smith Chason College (77% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 30.3% larger than aid received by Laney College students ($6,731 vs. $5,164).

Laney College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Laney College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laney 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 $21,900 more per year than Laney College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laney College graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($10,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Laney College graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($108 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laney College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 38%)

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.