Orange Coast College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Orange Coast College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than Smith Chason College ($9,116 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Smith Chason College ($19,159 vs. $22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,267.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Orange Coast College (about $17,648 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,392.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.6% higher at Smith Chason College than at Orange Coast College (about $7,400 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Orange Coast College (71% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 22.5% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,731 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College.

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

Orange Coast College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 $14,000 more per year than Orange Coast College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $13,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($6,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $139 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($67 vs. $206).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith Chason College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 48%)

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.