Smith Chason College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Smith Chason College charges a net price of $34,367/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $68,734. Graduates earn a median $58,004 ten years after entry, $9,644/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.1 years — a 20-year net return of $124,146, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Smith Chason College's 7.1-year payback ranks #624 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 51% of them, and #86 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $34,367/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $68,734 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,004 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,644/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,397 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $124,146 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Smith Chason College's own numbers. Net price $34,367 × 2 years = $68,734 total. Median earnings $58,004 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,644 a year of premium. $68,734 ÷ $9,644 = 7.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $124,146. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Smith Chason College students graduate with?
A median $21,397 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $58,004 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Smith Chason College students graduate?
72% finish their degree. Spread the $68,734 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $95,464 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Smith Chason College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $34,367 net price runs $14,462 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $28,924 more across the full degree.