San Diego Mesa College vs. Southwestern College

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

San Diego Mesa College
Southwestern College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: San Diego Mesa College. Average net price is $10,316 vs $15,148 at Southwestern College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: San Diego Mesa College $41,600 vs Southwestern College $34,100 (median).
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Key differences

San Diego Mesa College Southwestern College
Acceptance rate
San Diego Mesa College-
Southwestern College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
San Diego Mesa College-
Southwestern College-
Average net price
San Diego Mesa College $4,832 less
San Diego Mesa College$10,316
Southwestern College$15,148
In-state tuition
San Diego Mesa College $198 less
San Diego Mesa College$1,146
Southwestern College$1,344
Out-of-state tuition
San Diego Mesa College $638 less
San Diego Mesa College$10,002
Southwestern College$10,640
Graduation rate
San Diego Mesa College-
Southwestern College-
Median earnings (10 years)
San Diego Mesa College +$7,500
San Diego Mesa College$41,600
Southwestern College$34,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Southwestern College -
  • Admitted
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Southwestern College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • San Diego Mesa College Open
  • Southwestern College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • San Diego Mesa College Open
  • Southwestern College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College
  • Typical ACT score
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College
  • Average high school GPA
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Southwestern College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Southwestern College -
  • Admissions standards
  • San Diego Mesa College Unavailable
  • Southwestern College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College
  • SAT range
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College
  • ACT range
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College
  • Submit test scores
  • San Diego Mesa College Open admission
  • Southwestern College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • San Diego Mesa College $1,146
  • Southwestern College $1,344
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • San Diego Mesa College $10,002
  • Southwestern College $10,640
  • Room & board
  • San Diego Mesa College $31,243
  • Southwestern College $23,897
  • Average net price
  • San Diego Mesa College $10,316
  • Southwestern College $15,148
  • Average grant aid
  • San Diego Mesa College $8,252
  • Southwestern College $6,821
  • % receiving grant aid
  • San Diego Mesa College 79%
  • Southwestern College 86%
  • Graduation rate
  • San Diego Mesa College -
  • Southwestern College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • San Diego Mesa College $41,600
  • Southwestern College $34,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • San Diego Mesa College 41%
  • Southwestern College 36%
  • Median student loan debt
  • San Diego Mesa College $4,500
  • Southwestern College $4,500
  • Median loan payment
  • San Diego Mesa College $46
  • Southwestern College $46
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • San Diego Mesa College 23:1
  • Southwestern College 26:1
  • Popular majors
  • San Diego Mesa College
    • Business (27%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Southwestern College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (28%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (3%)
  • Location
  • San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA
  • Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA
  • Setting
  • San Diego Mesa College Large City
  • Southwestern College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • San Diego Mesa College 19,212
  • Southwestern College 20,986
  • Type
  • San Diego Mesa College Public 2 Year
  • Southwestern College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA with Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Southwestern College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 19,212 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 23.5% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($23,897 vs. $31,243).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Southwestern College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $638 more per year; $10,640 vs. $10,002).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at San Diego Mesa College (86% vs. 79%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 21% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($8,252 vs. $6,821).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both San Diego Mesa College and Southwestern College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College and San Diego Mesa College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Southwestern College and San Diego Mesa 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 Southwestern College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 36%).

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

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