Harbor College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Harbor College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (9,463 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Harbor College is located in Wilmington, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Harbor College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Harbor College 27:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Harbor College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harbor 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 Los Angeles Harbor College than Smith Chason College ($14,632 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Harbor College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Smith Chason College is 1,438% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harbor College (about $17,802 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.2% higher at Smith Chason College than at Los Angeles Harbor College (about $8,472 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $10,568.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Harbor College than at Smith Chason College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Harbor College students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($6,765 vs. $6,731).

Harbor College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Harbor College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harbor 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 $19,500 more per year than Harbor College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Harbor College graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($4,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Harbor 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 Harbor College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 42%)

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.