Fresno City College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

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

Fresno City College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fresno City 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: Fresno City College 29:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Fresno City College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College ($6,361 vs. $9,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 29.2% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($17,982 vs. $25,407).
• Fresno City College is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $96 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Fresno City College (about $418 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,154.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (92% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students ($7,210 vs. $6,622).

Fresno City College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College.

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

Fresno City College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City 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 Fresno City College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $655 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates ($3,845 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates ($39 vs. $46).
• More Fresno City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.