Cabrillo College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

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

Cabrillo College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (9,457 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cabrillo 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: Cabrillo College 20:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College ($6,361 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 0.5% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($25,281 vs. $25,407).
• Cabrillo College is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $32 more per year; $1,270.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Cabrillo College (about $710 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Cabrillo College (86% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 18.3% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($6,622 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; Los Angeles Southwest College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027; Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Cabrillo College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($46 vs. $108).
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.