Fullerton College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Fullerton College in Fullerton, 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 Fullerton College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 19,521 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fullerton College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than Southwestern College ($8,306 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,086 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 16.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $194 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.3% higher at Fullerton College than at Southwestern College (about $1,739 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Southwestern College (87% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($6,821 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 Fullerton College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Fullerton 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.