College of the Canyons vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, 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 the Canyons based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 18,075 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Canyons is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Canyons 25:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

College of the Canyons vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons than Southwestern College ($5,760 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,086 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $178 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at College of the Canyons than at Southwestern College (about $318 more per year; $10,958.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at College of the Canyons (86% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 48.4% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($6,821 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons earn a median of about $12,900 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $5,697 lower median loan debt than College of the Canyons graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,197).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Canyons graduates ($46 vs. $105).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.