DVC vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, 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 DVC based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 17,228 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

DVC vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 Diablo Valley College than Southwestern College ($11,001 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 2.8% lower than at Southwestern College ($23,238 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than DVC (about $32 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Southwestern College than at Diablo Valley College (about $320 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Diablo Valley College (86% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 53.6% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($6,821 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.