Valley College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Valley College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (15,999 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Valley College is located in Valley Glen, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles 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: Los Angeles Valley College 28:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Valley College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valley 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 Valley College than Smith Chason College ($13,550 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 Valley College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Smith Chason College is 1,438% more expensive for in-state tuition than Valley College (about $17,802 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.1% higher at Smith Chason College than at Los Angeles Valley College (about $8,468 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Valley College than at Smith Chason College (82% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Valley College students ($6,731 vs. $6,243).

Valley College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Valley College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Valley 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 $19,200 more per year than Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Valley College graduates have a $11,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($8,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Valley College graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($87 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Valley College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 39%)

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.