Pierce College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 16,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College 30:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Pierce College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College than Southwestern College ($14,469 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 5.9% lower than at Los Angeles Pierce College ($23,897 vs. $25,407).
• Southwestern College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce College (86% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students ($6,821 vs. $6,398).

Pierce College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce 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 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; Southwestern College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Pierce College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($46 vs. $108).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce 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.