Los Angeles Southwest College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Los Angeles Southwest College and San Diego Mesa College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Los Angeles Southwest College
San Diego Mesa College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Los Angeles Southwest College. Average net price is $6,361 vs $10,316 at San Diego Mesa College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Los Angeles Southwest College $29,200 vs San Diego Mesa College $41,600 (median).
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Key differences

Los Angeles Southwest College San Diego Mesa College
Acceptance rate
Los Angeles Southwest College-
San Diego Mesa College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Los Angeles Southwest College-
San Diego Mesa College-
Average net price
Los Angeles Southwest College $3,955 less
Los Angeles Southwest College$6,361
San Diego Mesa College$10,316
In-state tuition
San Diego Mesa College $92 less
Los Angeles Southwest College$1,238
San Diego Mesa College$1,146
Out-of-state tuition
San Diego Mesa College $570 less
Los Angeles Southwest College$10,572
San Diego Mesa College$10,002
Graduation rate
Los Angeles Southwest College-
San Diego Mesa College-
Median earnings (10 years)
San Diego Mesa College +$12,400
Los Angeles Southwest College$29,200
San Diego Mesa College$41,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Admitted
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Open
  • San Diego Mesa College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Open
  • San Diego Mesa College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Average high school GPA
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Admissions standards
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Unavailable
  • San Diego Mesa College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • SAT range
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • ACT range
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Submit test scores
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Open admission
  • San Diego Mesa College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $1,238
  • San Diego Mesa College $1,146
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $10,572
  • San Diego Mesa College $10,002
  • Room & board
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $25,407
  • San Diego Mesa College $31,243
  • Average net price
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $6,361
  • San Diego Mesa College $10,316
  • Average grant aid
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $6,622
  • San Diego Mesa College $8,252
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 86%
  • San Diego Mesa College 79%
  • Graduation rate
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $29,200
  • San Diego Mesa College $41,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 21%
  • San Diego Mesa College 41%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $4,500
  • San Diego Mesa College $4,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $46
  • San Diego Mesa College $46
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1
  • San Diego Mesa College 23:1
  • Popular majors
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
    • Health Professions (38%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Psychology (4%)
  • San Diego Mesa College
    • Business (27%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Location
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles, CA
  • San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Large Suburban
  • San Diego Mesa College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 5,371
  • San Diego Mesa College 19,212
  • Type
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Public 2 Year
  • San Diego Mesa College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 5,371 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Los Angeles Southwest College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Southwest College are 18.7% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,407 vs. $31,243).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $570 more per year; $10,572 vs. $10,002).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at San Diego Mesa College (86% vs. 79%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 24.6% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students ($8,252 vs. $6,622).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College and Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, San Diego Mesa College and Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
  • More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 21%).

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

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