Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Southwest College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles Southwest College or Riverside City 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 Riverside City College ($6,361 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Southwest College are 5% lower than at Riverside City College ($25,407 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $190 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.2% higher at Riverside City College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $1,926 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Riverside City College (86% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 2.5% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,622 vs. $6,463).

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles Southwest College or Riverside City 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 Riverside City College and Los Angeles Southwest College.

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

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles Southwest College and Riverside City 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.