Foothill College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Foothill 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: Foothill College 26:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Foothill College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($6,361 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 18.2% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($20,793 vs. $25,407).
• Foothill College is 26.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $327 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.1% higher at Foothill College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $2,018 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Foothill College (86% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 56.8% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,622 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $30,200 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $4,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($46 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.