West Valley College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

West Valley College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (7,655 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• West Valley College is located in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: West Valley College 29:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

West Valley College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, West Valley 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 West Valley College than Smith Chason College ($7,270 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 37.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,086 vs. $35,361).
• Smith Chason College is 1,177.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Valley College (about $17,550 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,490.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.8% higher at Smith Chason College than at West Valley College (about $10,338 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Smith Chason College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 40.1% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($6,731 vs. $4,806).

West Valley College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, West Valley 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 West Valley College.

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

West Valley College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for West Valley 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 $15,100 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College 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.