Saddleback College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Saddleback College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than Smith Chason College ($8,122 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Smith Chason College is 1,547.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $17,884 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.5% higher at Smith Chason College than at Saddleback College (about $7,180 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Smith Chason College (77% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 46.2% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,731 vs. $4,603).

Saddleback College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Saddleback College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 $11,900 more per year than Saddleback College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $13,880 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($6,120 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($63 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

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.