Palo Verde College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Palo Verde College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (3,833 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Verde College is located in Blythe, CA (Distant Rural setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Palo Verde College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Verde College 22:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Palo Verde College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College than Smith Chason College ($22,492 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 14.3% lower than at Palo Verde College ($22,086 vs. $25,767).
• Smith Chason College is 1,378.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Verde College (about $17,752 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.8% higher at Smith Chason College than at Palo Verde College (about $6,160 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $12,880.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Verde College than at Smith Chason College (92% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 116.4% larger than aid received by Palo Verde College students ($6,731 vs. $3,111).

Palo Verde College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College.

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

Palo Verde College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Verde 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 $27,100 more per year than Palo Verde College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $29,100), 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.