Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (20,764 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); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles Southwest College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College ($6,361 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Southwest College are 1.4% lower than at Saddleback College ($25,407 vs. $25,769).
• Los Angeles Southwest College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $82 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Saddleback College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $1,288 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Saddleback College (86% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 43.9% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,622 vs. $4,603).

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles Southwest College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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; Saddleback College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles Southwest College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $1,620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($46 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.