Cerritos College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 20,986 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cerritos College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College 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 Cerritos College than Southwestern College ($4,325 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,088 vs. $23,897).
• Cerritos College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $20 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at Cerritos College than at Southwestern College (about $1,364 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Southwestern College (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,821 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

Cerritos College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College 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 Cerritos College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 35%)

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.