RHC vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Hondo College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Hondo College 31:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

RHC vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC 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 Rio Hondo College than Smith Chason College ($16,449 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Rio Hondo College and Smith Chason College ($22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,271.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RHC (about $17,652 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,388.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.6% higher at Smith Chason College than at Rio Hondo College (about $9,156 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Smith Chason College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 33.3% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($6,731 vs. $5,049).

RHC vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RHC 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 RHC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RHC - Open admission; Smith Chason College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027.

RHC vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC 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 $17,700 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 34%)

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.