City College of San Francisco vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than City College of San Francisco based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 19,267 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco than Southwestern College ($9,616 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 11.2% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($23,897 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 26.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $352 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.7% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Southwestern College (about $4,016 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern 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 7.3% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($7,318 vs. $6,821).

City College of San Francisco vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 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; Southwestern College - Open admission.

City College of San Francisco vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern 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 Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.