City College of San Francisco vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City College of San Francisco is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco ($6,361 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Southwest College are 5.6% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($25,407 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 37% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $458 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.6% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $4,084 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at City College of San Francisco (86% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students ($7,318 vs. $6,622).

City College of San Francisco vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($46 vs. $85).
• More City College of San Francisco graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.