San Diego Mesa College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

Compare San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA with Smith Chason College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 2,447 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.4% higher at Smith Chason College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $9,038 more per year; $19,040 vs. $10,002).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Smith Chason College (79% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 22.6% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($8,252 vs. $6,731).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both San Diego Mesa College and Smith Chason College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($4,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($46 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation (48% vs. 41%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.