LTCC vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Tahoe Community College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (4,040 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Tahoe Community College is located in South Lake Tahoe, CA (Distant Town setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lake Tahoe Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Tahoe Community College 25:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

LTCC vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LTCC 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 Lake Tahoe Community College than Smith Chason College ($11,799 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Tahoe Community College are 39.2% lower than at Smith Chason College ($13,425 vs. $22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 6,933.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than LTCC (about $1,040 more per year; $1,055.00 vs. $15.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6,933.3% higher at Smith Chason College than at Lake Tahoe Community College (about $1,040 more per year; $1,055.00 vs. $15.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith Chason College than at Lake Tahoe Community College (71% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 14.8% larger than aid received by Lake Tahoe Community College students ($6,731 vs. $5,863).

LTCC vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LTCC 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 LTCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.

LTCC vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LTCC 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 $25,100 more per year than LTCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $31,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.