Southwestern College vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA with Berkeley City College in Berkeley, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern College is located in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern College 26:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

Southwestern College vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwestern College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College than Southwestern College ($12,695 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berkeley City College are 4.5% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,820 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berkeley City College (about $86 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Southwestern College than at Berkeley City College (about $742 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Berkeley City College (86% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 25.8% larger than aid received by Berkeley City College students ($6,821 vs. $5,422).

Southwestern College vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwestern College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College and Southwestern College.

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

Southwestern College vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwestern College and Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berkeley City College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 35%)

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.