Public Associate Good 62/100

Los Angeles Southwest College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Los Angeles, California

About Los Angeles Southwest College

Los Angeles Southwest College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Los Angeles, California. It enrolls 3,706 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
7.5%
Net Price
$5,964
Median Earnings (10yr)
$32,172
Enrollment
3,706
Student : Faculty
20:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
62/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 29
Value 71
Affordability 48
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Los Angeles Southwest College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Los Angeles Southwest College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,964 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$5,964
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,238
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,572
Room & Board (off-campus)
$25,407
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,624

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $5,723
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $6,189
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $6,540
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $7,420

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,000
10% percentile
$3,500
25% percentile
$10,250
75% percentile
$16,850
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Dependent students $5,550
Independent students $10,500
Female students $9,750
Male students $10,500
Dependent students: 15.3%Independent students: 28.9%Female students: 26.9%Male students: 28.9%Overall Median
What this means: 23% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

7% of full-time students who enrolled at Los Angeles Southwest College graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
7%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Los Angeles Southwest College earn a median of $32,172 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,172
Earning > $25K
53%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$27,000$29,000$30,000$31,000$33,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$28,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$33,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$5.4 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Los Angeles Southwest College is home to 3,706 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 58% are first-generation college students, 85% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
3,706
Part-Time
85%
First-Generation
58%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Black 38.8% 1,439
Hispanic 38.6% 1,429
White 12.9% 478
Other 4.2% 155
Asian 3.2% 118
International 0.2% 7
Black: 38.8% (1,439 students)Hispanic: 38.6% (1,429 students)White: 12.9% (478 students)Other: 4.2% (155 students)Asian: 3.2% (118 students)International: 0.2% (7 students)Total3,706

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Los Angeles Southwest College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Los Angeles, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
47% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)

What You Can Study

Los Angeles Southwest College offers a varied set of programs: 30 distinct programs across 19 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
5 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Los Angeles Southwest College is 20:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,324
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,040
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

77 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 77 100% $104,040

Pros & Cons of Los Angeles Southwest College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Los Angeles Southwest College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for: Based on the data, Los Angeles Southwest College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Los Angeles Southwest College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Los Angeles Southwest College.

Is Los Angeles Southwest College hard to get into?
Los Angeles Southwest College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Los Angeles Southwest College?
Los Angeles Southwest College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Los Angeles Southwest College cost?
The average net price after aid at Los Angeles Southwest College is $5,964 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,172 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,964 per year. That's roughly 5.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Los Angeles Southwest College known for?
Los Angeles Southwest College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Los Angeles Southwest College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Los Angeles Southwest College are $32,172, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College accredited?
Yes. Los Angeles Southwest College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Los Angeles Southwest College?
Los Angeles Southwest College enrolls 3,706 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Los Angeles Southwest College?
Los Angeles Southwest College graduates 7% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Los Angeles Southwest College a public or private college?
Los Angeles Southwest College is a Public institution.
Where is Los Angeles Southwest College located?
Los Angeles Southwest College is located in Los Angeles, California.
What programs does Los Angeles Southwest College offer?
Los Angeles Southwest College offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Los Angeles Southwest College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Los Angeles Southwest College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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