Southwestern College
- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,060 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,671 B-
- 26% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 18,614
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $927,773.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $19.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Southwestern College
Southwestern College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 18,614
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Social Sciences
Why students choose Southwestern College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,671 a year after grants and scholarships — 26% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,060 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $4,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Overview
Thirty-four percent of students at Southwestern College graduate within six years. This number reflects the challenges many students face in completing their degrees. However, for those who do finish, the potential for earnings is promising.
According to Opportunity Insights data, students at Southwestern College who come from the bottom 20% of income earners have a chance to improve their economic standing. Although specific mobility rates are not provided, the college's diverse programs in health, business, and social sciences can support upward mobility for many students.
The average net price for attending Southwestern College is $12,671, making it accessible for many students. Graduates earn around $40,060 after ten years, which can provide a stable financial footing. With median debt set at just $4,500, many find it manageable to pay off their loans. Those who thrive here often pursue degrees in humanities, health professions, and social sciences, taking advantage of the college's strong programs in these fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Southwestern College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southwestern College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chula Vista, California, Southwestern College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 27%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,677
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 57%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southwestern College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwestern College is $10,640, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,671. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,380 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $4,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,344
- Out-of-State
- $10,640
- Avg Net Price
- $12,671
- Median Debt
- $4,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,380
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,634
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,332
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,045
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Southwestern College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Southwestern College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwestern College report median earnings of $40,060, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,970
- 8 Years
- $37,318
- 10 Years
- $40,060
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.11x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (187)
- 10%
- 100% (187)
- 10%
- 100% (187)
- 10%
- 100% (187)
- 10%
How Southwestern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Southwestern College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southwestern College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,671/year ($50,684 total). Graduates earn $40,060 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $978,457 in total earnings — a net gain of $927,773 (19.3× your investment). The median debt is $4,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,684
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $978,457
- Net Return
- $927,773
- ROI Multiple
- 19.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,671
- Median Debt
- $4,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,468,449
- Investment Income
- $-7,923,355
Top Programs
The fields Southwestern College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 20%
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Health Professions 15%
- Social Sciences 6%
- Psychology 6%
- Criminal Justice 4% $36,072 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Southwestern College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southwestern College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chula Vista, California, Southwestern College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southwestern College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwestern College is $10,640, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,671. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,380 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $4,500 in federal student loans.
Is Southwestern College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwestern College report median earnings of $40,060, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southwestern College.
- Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA · Close peer34% grad $41,091 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- American River CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer35% grad $40,162 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · Close peer31% grad $38,349 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland Hills, CA · Close peer44% grad $44,521 earnWhy: similar size · similar net price · same state
- Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, CA · Close peer34% grad $42,975 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
