Orange Coast College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 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 Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Orange Coast College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than Southwestern College ($9,116 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 19.8% lower than at Southwestern College ($19,159 vs. $23,897).
• Orange Coast College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $48 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Orange Coast College than at Southwestern College (about $1,000 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Orange Coast College (86% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,821 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Orange Coast College - Open admission; Southwestern College - Open admission.

Orange Coast College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 36%)

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.