Merritt College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Merritt College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (7,022 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Merritt College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt 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 Merritt College than Smith Chason College ($15,581 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Smith Chason College is 1,413.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $17,782 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.4% higher at Smith Chason College than at Merritt College (about $9,142 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College as at Smith Chason College (71% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 35.4% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,731 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Merritt College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt 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 $16,400 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merritt College graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($11,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Merritt College graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($118 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 27%)

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.