Merced College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Merced College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced 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 Merced College than Smith Chason College ($6,854 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 12% lower than at Smith Chason College ($19,432 vs. $22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,486.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $17,840 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 123.5% higher at Smith Chason College than at Merced College (about $10,520 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Smith Chason College (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($7,480 vs. $6,731).

Merced College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Merced College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced 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 $25,900 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.