Pasadena City College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pasadena 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: Pasadena City College 23:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Pasadena City College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena 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 Pasadena City College than Smith Chason College ($6,888 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 12% lower than at Smith Chason College ($19,431 vs. $22,086).
• Smith Chason College is 1,513.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $17,860 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.9% higher at Smith Chason College than at Pasadena City College (about $9,220 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Smith Chason College (78% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($6,759 vs. $6,731).

Pasadena City College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

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

Pasadena City College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena 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 $18,300 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $14,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($5,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($56 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 36%)

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.