Coastline Community College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastline Community College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (9,008 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Coastline Community 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: Coastline Community College 39:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Coastline Community College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College ($6,361 vs. $16,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastline Community College are 6.9% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($23,659 vs. $25,407).
• Coastline Community 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 9.8% higher at Coastline Community College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $1,040 more per year; $11,612.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Coastline Community College (86% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 21.4% larger than aid received by Coastline Community College students ($6,622 vs. $5,455).

Coastline Community College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College.

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

Coastline Community College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Coastline Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,250).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastline Community College graduates ($46 vs. $54).
• More Coastline Community College 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.