East Los Angeles College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA with Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 20,986 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Los Angeles College is located in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• East Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Los Angeles College 33:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

East Los Angeles College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College than Southwestern College ($11,700 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 5.9% lower than at East Los Angeles College ($23,897 vs. $25,407).
• Southwestern College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than East Los Angeles College (about $106 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Southwestern College than at East Los Angeles College (about $68 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at East Los Angeles College (86% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Los Angeles College students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($7,098 vs. $6,821).

East Los Angeles College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College.

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

East Los Angeles College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $1,316 lower median loan debt than East Los Angeles College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,816).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than East Los Angeles College graduates ($46 vs. $60).
• More East Los Angeles College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.