Saddleback College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, 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 Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saddleback College 27:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Saddleback College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than Southwestern College ($8,122 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 7.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($23,897 vs. $25,769).
• Southwestern College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $188 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Saddleback College than at Southwestern College (about $1,220 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Saddleback College (86% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 48.2% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,821 vs. $4,603).

Saddleback College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College.

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

Saddleback College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $1,620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern 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 Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.