Columbia Junior College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Sonora, CA with Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Los Angeles Southwest College is larger than Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (5,371 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Columbia 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: Columbia College 21:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College or Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest College than Columbia Junior College ($6,361 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Columbia College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Southwest College (about $44 more per year; $1,282.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Columbia College (about $1,308 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at Columbia College (86% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 8.2% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($6,622 vs. $6,119).

Columbia Junior College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior College or Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest College and Columbia Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia Junior College - Open admission; Los Angeles Southwest College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Columbia Junior College vs. Los Angeles Southwest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College and Los Angeles Southwest 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 Columbia College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,400 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.