Riverside City College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Riverside City College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City 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 Riverside City College than Smith Chason College ($10,174 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Smith Chason College is 1,233.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Riverside City College (about $17,612 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,428.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.3% higher at Smith Chason College than at Riverside City College (about $6,542 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $12,498.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Smith Chason College (78% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,731 vs. $6,463).

Riverside City College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverside City 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 Riverside City College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Riverside City College - Open admission; Smith Chason College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Riverside City College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City 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 $20,200 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($8,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($82 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 41%)

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.