CRC vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, 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 CRC based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 15,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cosumnes River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cosumnes River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cosumnes River College 29:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

CRC vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CRC 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 Cosumnes River College than Southwestern College ($8,043 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cosumnes River College are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,086 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CRC (about $56 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at CRC than at Southwestern College (about $1,976 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at Southwestern College (92% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 36% larger than aid received by Cosumnes River College students ($6,821 vs. $5,017).

CRC vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CRC 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 CRC.

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

CRC vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CRC 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 Southwestern College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than CRC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CRC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CRC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 28%)

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.