Southwestern College vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern College is located in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern College 26:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

Southwestern College vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwestern College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than Southwestern College ($8,669 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Las Positas College are 3.4% lower than at Southwestern College ($23,076 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 15.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $176 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Southwestern College than at Las Positas College (about $832 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Las Positas College (86% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 77.7% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($6,821 vs. $3,839).

Southwestern College vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwestern College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Southwestern College vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwestern College and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Las Positas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.