Cuesta College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cuesta College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuesta 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: Cuesta College 27:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Cuesta College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College ($6,361 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Cuesta College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $112 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Cuesta College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $438 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Cuesta College (86% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 59.8% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,622 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuesta College - Open admission; Los Angeles Southwest College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027; Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Cuesta College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $6,750 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($4,500 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($46 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.