Cuyamaca College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College 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 Cuyamaca College than Southwestern College ($7,752 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,086 vs. $23,897).
• Cuyamaca College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $2 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Southwestern College (about $674 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Cuyamaca College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($8,246 vs. $6,821).

Cuyamaca College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College 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 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; Southwestern College - Open admission.

Cuyamaca College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College 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 $2,200 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Southwestern 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 Southwestern College 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.