Los Angeles City College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles City College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 14,611 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles City College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles City College 30:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Los Angeles City College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles City 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 Los Angeles City College than Southwestern College ($11,836 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 5.9% lower than at Los Angeles City College ($23,897 vs. $25,407).
• Southwestern College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles City College (about $106 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Southwestern College than at Los Angeles City College (about $68 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Los Angeles City College (86% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 2.5% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($6,994 vs. $6,821).

Los Angeles City College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles City 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 Los Angeles City College.

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

Los Angeles City College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles City 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 Southwestern College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Los Angeles City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $5,469 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,969).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Los Angeles City College graduates ($46 vs. $103).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles City College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 33%)

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.