ARC vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 20,986 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

ARC vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Southwestern 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 American River College than Southwestern College ($9,488 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,086 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $56 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at ARC than at Southwestern College (about $1,976 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Southwestern College (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 25% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,821 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Southwestern 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 Southwestern 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; Southwestern College - Open admission.

ARC vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Southwestern 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 $2,500 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $7,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($4,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($46 vs. $126).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 26%)

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.