Las Positas College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Las Positas College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (8,103 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Las Positas College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than Smith Chason College ($8,669 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 4.3% lower than at Las Positas College ($22,086 vs. $23,076).
• Smith Chason College is 1,530.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $17,872 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94.1% higher at Smith Chason College than at Las Positas College (about $9,232 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Las Positas College as at Smith Chason College (71% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 75.3% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($6,731 vs. $3,839).

Las Positas College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Las Positas 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 Las Positas College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Las Positas College - Open admission; Smith Chason College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Las Positas College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Las Positas 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 $14,500 more per year than Las Positas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Las Positas College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 41%)

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.