Los Angeles Southwest College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (12,334 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); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles Southwest College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($6,361 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Santa Barbara City College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $2 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $140 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Santa Barbara City College (86% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,622 vs. $5,889).

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles Southwest College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles Southwest College and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.