Southwestern College Tuition & Completion (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

Southwestern College is a public community college in Chula Vista, California, with about 18,614 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $12,671 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,344. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (64.0%) and White (13.6%) among the largest enrollment groups.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,344
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $12,671 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 18,614 43.3% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 35.50%
  • Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
  • First-Generation Students: 56.5%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 6.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 26.8%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 29,888
  • Room & Board: $23,897 annual estimate

Southwestern College: what the data shows

Common questions about Southwestern College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Southwestern College?

Southwestern College is located in Chula Vista, CA (ZIP 91910-7299).

NCES locale classification: City.

Is Southwestern College public or private?

Southwestern College is a Public institution.

How much does Southwestern College cost?

Published tuition: $1,344 in-state, $10,640 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $12,671.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$11,380
$30,001–$48,000$11,634
$48,001–$75,000$14,332
$75,001–$110,000$18,484
$110,001+$20,045

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,376.

How big is Southwestern College?

Total enrollment: 18,614 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 29,888 students.

About 43% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Southwestern College?

150%-time completion rate: 35.50%.

First-year retention: 70.0%.

What do graduates of Southwestern College earn?

Median earnings: $33,970 six years after entry; $40,060 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $4,500.

35.82% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Southwestern College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Southwestern College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 35.50%; median earnings $40,060 at 10 years; net price $12,671. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$1,344
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Southwestern College was $1,344.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$12,671
2024 Value

In 2024 Southwestern College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,671.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$50,684 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$12,671 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$5,376 4-Year In-State Tuition

$42,560 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$23,897 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,210 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$26,451 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$105,804 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Southwestern College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

35.82% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

5.22% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Southwestern 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 Southwestern 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$1,334$5,366$4,463
2014$1,336$5,452$4,535
2015$1,336$5,452$4,042
2016$1,336$5,956$3,935
2017$1,338$6,602$4,219
2018$1,338$6,602$3,919
2019$1,340$7,472$4,694
2020$1,340$7,752$4,877
2021$1,342$9,434$4,530
2022$1,342$9,490$11,620
2023$1,344$9,492$10,893

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.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

Test score data is not available for this institution.

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Southwestern College reported total enrollment of about 18,614 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (64.0%), White (13.6%), and Asian (9.5%). About 35.82% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 56.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

43.3% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Southwestern College in 2024 is 18,614 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 29,888 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

70.0%
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

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 64.0%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

10.78% 100% Completion Time

35.50% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 10.78% of students graduating from Southwestern 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: 42% male / 58% female
  • Business Administration and Management, General: 47% male / 53% female
  • Psychology, General: 25% male / 75% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Southwestern College.

Return on Investment

$4,500 Median Student Debt

$40,060 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

11.23% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

690.39% Return on Investment

1.1 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Southwestern College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 102 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 723 completions

2. Business Administration and Management, General: 329 completions

3. Psychology, General: 216 completions

4. Health Professions and Related Programs: 155 completions

5. Biological and Physical Sciences: 137 completions

6. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 137 completions

7. Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic): 129 completions

8. Sociology, General: 96 completions

9. Economics, General: 91 completions

Most popular programs at Southwestern College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Southwestern College graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Southwestern College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 26.8%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,677
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,280

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Southwestern College is a public institution located in Chula Vista, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 18,614 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (64.0%), White (13.6%), Asian (9.5%). The 150%-time completion rate is 35.50%. Approximately 35.82% of students receive Pell Grants. About 56.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional

Location

Chula Vista, CA 91910-7299

Region: Far West

Insights and Analysis

Graduation Rate Considerations: The 35.50% graduation rate at Southwestern College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 102 distinct degree programs, Southwestern College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Southwestern College located?

Southwestern College is located in Chula Vista, CA.

How much does Southwestern College cost?

Reported tuition is $1,344 and average net price is $12,671 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $23,897 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Southwestern College?

Southwestern College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 29,888 students, Hispanic or Latino (64.0%), White (13.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Southwestern College?

About 56.5% of students at Southwestern College are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of Southwestern College earn?

Median earnings are $33,970 six years after entry and $40,060 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Southwestern College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 35.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Southwestern College students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $4,500.

Is Southwestern College public or private?

Southwestern College is a public institution located in Chula Vista, CA.

Is Southwestern College an HBCU?

No. Southwestern College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Southwestern College a tribal college?

No. Southwestern College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is Southwestern College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Southwestern College reports 64.0% Hispanic enrollment share.

Is Southwestern College religiously affiliated?

No religious affiliation is reported for Southwestern College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • California trade schools profile
  • Chula Vista, California city profile
  • Far West regional profile
  • 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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.