Foothill College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Foothill College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College than Southwestern College ($10,805 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 13% lower than at Southwestern College ($20,793 vs. $23,897).
• Foothill College is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $221 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.3% higher at Foothill College than at Southwestern College (about $1,950 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Foothill College (86% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 61.5% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,821 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

Foothill College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $25,300 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $4,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern 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 Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.