ARC vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

ARC vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest College than ARC ($6,361 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• American River College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $50 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at ARC than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $2,044 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 21.4% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,622 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Los Angeles Southwest College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

ARC vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Los Angeles Southwest 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 American River College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $7,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($4,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($46 vs. $126).
• More ARC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (26% vs. 21%)

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.