Irvine Valley College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Irvine Valley College in Irvine, 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 Irvine Valley College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 13,018 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than Southwestern College ($5,821 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 7.3% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($23,897 vs. $25,769).
• Southwestern College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $188 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Southwestern College (about $1,220 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Irvine Valley College (86% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 6.3% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($7,254 vs. $6,821).

Irvine Valley College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Irvine Valley College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Irvine Valley College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More Irvine Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.