SMC vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SMC vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC 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 Santa Monica College than Smith Chason College ($5,685 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
• Smith Chason College is 1,547.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $17,884 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 77.8% higher at Smith Chason College than at Santa Monica College (about $8,332 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Santa Monica College (71% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 21.5% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,731 vs. $5,540).

SMC vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SMC 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 SMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SMC - Open admission; Smith Chason College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

SMC vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC 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 $17,200 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $13,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($6,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $139 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($67 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 45%)

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.