Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles, CA 90047-4899
About Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Southwest College is a public community college in Los Angeles, California, serving roughly 3,706 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $5,964 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,238. Student demographics in federal data include Black or African American (38.8%) and Hispanic or Latino (38.6%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Los Angeles Southwest College charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition ($1,238).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Average net price runs below the California median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 34.13%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,172.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Los Angeles Southwest College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1249% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Southwest College | $1,238 | $5,964 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Los Angeles Southwest College really?
Key findings
- Los Angeles Southwest College charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition ($1,238).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Average net price runs below the California median net price.
Los Angeles Southwest College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $1,238
Finding Los Angeles Southwest College charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $1,238. That is about 0.2× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 0.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Los Angeles Southwest College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Los Angeles Southwest College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Los Angeles Southwest College is $5,964.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $5,964 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $2,379 below the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $12,736 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Los Angeles Southwest College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Los Angeles Southwest College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Los Angeles Southwest College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$1,238
Out-of-state tuition
$10,572
Avg. net price
$5,964
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $5,723 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,189 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,540 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $7,420 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,952. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Los Angeles Southwest College is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies586
- Biological and Physical Sciences70
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse34
- Sociology, General28
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration27
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Los Angeles Southwest College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Los Angeles Southwest College.
Campus
Location
Los Angeles, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 90047-4899
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 0.3× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
Size
Enrollment
3,706
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 10,219
- Full-time share
- 15%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 22.67%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Los Angeles Southwest College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Los Angeles Southwest College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Los Angeles Southwest College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,221 | $6,161 | $6,063 |
| 2014 | $1,220 | $6,810 | $6,156 |
| 2015 | $1,220 | $7,016 | $6,418 |
| 2016 | $1,220 | $7,538 | $6,310 |
| 2017 | $1,220 | $7,538 | $6,003 |
| 2018 | $1,220 | $7,746 | $7,208 |
| 2019 | $1,220 | $8,110 | $6,548 |
| 2020 | $1,238 | $8,570 | $9,909 |
| 2021 | $1,238 | $9,012 | $5,853 |
| 2022 | $1,238 | $9,870 | $6,411 |
| 2023 | $1,238 | $10,130 | $6,683 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Los Angeles Southwest College reported total enrollment of about 3,706 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 35% male and 65% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (38.8%), Hispanic or Latino (38.6%), and White (12.9%). About 22.67% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 58.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
15.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Los Angeles Southwest College in 2024 is 3,706 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 10,219 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
52.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
14.29% 100% Completion Time
34.13% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 14.29% of students graduating from Los Angeles Southwest College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 26% male / 74% female
- Biological and Physical Sciences: 17% male / 83% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 35% male / 65% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Los Angeles Southwest College graduates earn a median of $32,172 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Los Angeles Southwest College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $32,172. Average net price used in cost models: $5,964.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Los Angeles Southwest College graduates report median earnings of $32,172 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Los Angeles Southwest College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (33 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Los Angeles Southwest College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Los Angeles Southwest College graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Los Angeles Southwest College—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 31.3%
- California median 8.0 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 14.4 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 26.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,250
- California median 1.1× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.2× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,489
- California median 1.9× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 1.8× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 1.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Los Angeles Southwest College at a glance
Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Southwest College is a public institution in Los Angeles, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesBiological and Physical SciencesRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American38.8%Hispanic or Latino38.6%White or Caucasian12.9%
Schools near Los Angeles Southwest College
Other campuses in Los Angeles, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Los Angeles Southwest College located?
Los Angeles Southwest College is located in Los Angeles, CA.
What is Los Angeles Southwest College's tuition?
Los Angeles Southwest College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $1,238 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $5,964 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Los Angeles Southwest College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,238 and average net price is $5,964 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $25,407 annually.
What explains Los Angeles Southwest College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($5,964), completion (34.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($32,172). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Los Angeles Southwest College?
Los Angeles Southwest College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 10,219 students, Black or African American (38.8%), Hispanic or Latino (38.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Los Angeles Southwest College?
About 58.3% of students at Los Angeles Southwest College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Los Angeles Southwest College earn?
Median earnings are $28,065 six years after entry and $32,172 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Los Angeles Southwest College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 34.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College public or private?
Los Angeles Southwest College is a public institution located in Los Angeles, CA.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College an HBCU?
No. Los Angeles Southwest College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College a tribal college?
No. Los Angeles Southwest College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Los Angeles Southwest College reports 38.6% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Los Angeles, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.