Pierce College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Pierce College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (16,906 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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: Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Pierce College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($6,361 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Los Angeles Pierce College and Los Angeles Southwest College ($25,407).
• Los Angeles Pierce College and Los Angeles Southwest College have the same published in-state tuition ($1,238.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Pierce College as at Los Angeles Southwest College ($10,572.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (86% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 3.5% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students ($6,622 vs. $6,398).

Pierce College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; Los Angeles Southwest College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027; Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Pierce College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($46 vs. $108).
• More Pierce College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.