Cuyamaca College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cuyamaca College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (8,905 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca 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: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College ($6,361 vs. $7,752).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Cuyamaca College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $108 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $742 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Cuyamaca College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 24.5% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students ($8,246 vs. $6,622).

Cuyamaca College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

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

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

Cuyamaca College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,900 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Los Angeles Southwest College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More Cuyamaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.