Coastline Community College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Coastline Community College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (9,008 students vs. 5,371 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Coastline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastline Community College 39:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastline Community College are 6.9% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($23,659 vs. $25,407).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at Coastline Community College than at Los Angeles Southwest College (about $1,040 more per year; $11,612 vs. $10,572).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Coastline Community College (86% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 21.4% larger than aid received by Coastline Community College students ($6,622 vs. $5,455).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Coastline Community College and Los Angeles Southwest College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Coastline Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,250).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastline Community College graduates ($46 vs. $54).
• More Coastline Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation (39% vs. 21%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.