Cerritos College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerritos 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: Cerritos College 26:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Cerritos College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos 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 Cerritos College than Los Angeles Southwest College ($4,325 vs. $6,361).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($22,088 vs. $25,407).
• Cerritos College is 10.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $126 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Cerritos College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $1,432 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,622 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

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

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

Cerritos College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos 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 Cerritos College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.