College of Alameda vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

College of Alameda vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda than Southwestern College ($12,506 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 4.5% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,820 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Alameda (about $86 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Southwestern College than at College of Alameda (about $742 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda as at Southwestern College (86% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 26.7% larger than aid received by College of Alameda students ($6,821 vs. $5,385).

College of Alameda vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of Alameda - Open admission; Southwestern College - Open admission.

College of Alameda vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 30%)

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.