San Diego Miramar College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare San Diego Miramar College in San Diego, 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 San Diego Miramar College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 14,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

San Diego Miramar College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Miramar 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 San Diego Miramar College than Southwestern College ($8,066 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 23.5% lower than at San Diego Miramar College ($23,897 vs. $31,243).
• Southwestern College is 17.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Miramar College (about $198 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Southwestern College than at San Diego Miramar College (about $638 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at San Diego Miramar College (86% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 2.8% larger than aid received by San Diego Miramar College students ($6,821 vs. $6,637).

San Diego Miramar College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Miramar 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 San Diego Miramar College.

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

San Diego Miramar College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Miramar 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 San Diego Miramar College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College and San Diego Miramar College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Southwestern College and San Diego Miramar College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More San Diego Miramar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.