Mendocino College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Mendocino College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (4,225 students vs. 2,447 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Mendocino College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino 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 Mendocino College than Smith Chason College ($9,798 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 24.9% lower than at Smith Chason College ($16,580 vs. $22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,238% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mendocino College (about $17,617 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,423.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.3% higher at Smith Chason College than at Mendocino College (about $9,037 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $10,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Smith Chason College (84% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($7,180 vs. $6,731).

Mendocino College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or Smith Chason College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Smith Chason College and Mendocino College.

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

Mendocino College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and Smith Chason College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Smith Chason College earn a median of about $26,800 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mendocino College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($13,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Mendocino College graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($134 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 30%)

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.