About
Southwestern College is a public community college in Chula Vista, California. It was founded in 1961. It is part of the Southwestern Community College District, itself a part of the California Community Colleges system. It has an enrollment of 25,228 across all its campuses within San Diego County, as of 2023. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell recipients here graduate at a 3.8-point higher rate than non-Pell students, unusual and worth a closer look.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 139 Title IV programs, 9 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 129 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing9 · 6.5%
- No Data129 · 92.8%
- Failing1 · 0.7%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Programmatic accreditations · 1
Action history · 8
- Apr 2024Renewal of AccreditationAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Jun 2023Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- May 2023Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Oct 2022Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Mar 2022Probation or Equivalent or a More Severe Status: ProbationAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 9,130 students received $44.0M in Pell grants, alongside $10.2M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 234 borrowers who entered repayment, 10 (4.2%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Southwestern College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 11
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus8
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Race1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Southwestern College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Southwestern College selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSouthwestern College | 35% | Open admission | 20,986 | $12,671 | Community College |
| — | Open admission | 8,905 | $6,618 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 14,440 | $5,311 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 8,873 | $1,115 | Community College | |
| 96% | Open admission | 11,478 | $7,339 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 19,550 | $5,763 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 13,242 | $7,935 | Community College | |
| 92% | Open admission | 19,212 | $5,814 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 14,257 | $3,337 | Community College | |
| Peer group median | 92% | — | 14,257 | $5,814 |
Institutions like Southwestern College
Explore the federal data for institutions in Southwestern College's comparison group.
- Community CollegeCalifornia
Cuyamaca College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,905Net price$6,618View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Grossmont College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment14,440Net price$5,311View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Imperial Valley College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,873Net price$1,115View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
MiraCosta College
Grad rate96%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,478Net price$7,339View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Palomar College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,550Net price$5,763View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
San Diego City College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,242Net price$7,935View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
San Diego Mesa College
Grad rate92%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,212Net price$5,814View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
San Diego Miramar College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment14,257Net price$3,337View data
Southwestern College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Southwestern Community College District provides accurate, timely, and unbiased data analysis to advance equity-minded, data-informed decision-making to improve student access and student success in higher education and beyond.
Visit IR office page- Bill AbasoloDean of Institutional Research & Planning
- Angela CardenasAdministrative Secretary
- Anna FloresInstitutional Research & Planning Coordinator
- Briana Todhunter, M.S.Principal Research Analyst
- Briana TodhunterPrincipal Research Analyst
- Eduardo Diaz, Ed.D.Research Analyst
- Eduardo DiazResearch Analyst
- Ivan DaculaStudent Services Data Software Specialist
- Jenny Pasaribu, Ph.D.Senior Research and Planning Analyst
- Jenny PasaribuSenior Research and Planning Analyst
- John Elder, M.S.Research Analyst
- John ElderResearch Analyst
Reports & documents (8)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardswccd.edu
- Data definitionData Dictionary 2017The data dictionary from Southwestern College provides detailed definitions and descriptions of institutional terms related to student enrollment, course completion, degree programs, and other administrative data metrics, aiming to standardize data reporting and comprehension.swccd.edu
- Data dictionaryData Dictionary 20172017The Southwestern College Data Dictionary 2017 provides detailed definitions and explanations for terms and metrics used in the college's institutional research and planning. It describes the academic calendar structuring, various educational and enrollment calculations such as Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES), student headcounts, course success metrics, and program completion indicators. Additionally, it details administrative processes like census day determinations, transfer readiness, and the distinction between different types of student statuses. It serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding reporting and data usage within the context of California Community Colleges.swccd.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookSOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE Fact Book 2023-20242023The Southwestern College Fact Book 2023-2024 provides comprehensive information about the institution's mission, student demographics, services, and academic achievements. The report highlights key metrics such as student enrollment, course completion rates, and degrees awarded. Prepared by the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, it offers detailed data on the college's diverse community, service areas, and facilities. Additionally, the document covers the college's commitment to student success, equity, and community engagement.swccd.edu
- GlossarySouthwestern Community College District – Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Tentative Budget GlossaryThe glossary from Southwestern Community College District's tentative budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021 provides definitions for 84 terms related to financial and budgeting operations within the educational institution. These terms cover a wide range of financial concepts, including different types of budgets, funds, and accounting practices. Key terms include 'Apportionment,' 'Balanced budget,' 'Debt service,' 'Fiscal year,' and 'Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF).' This glossary is a resource for understanding the detailed financial terminology used in the management of the college's fiscal activities.swccd.edu
- GlossaryInstitutional Research & PlanningThe Institutional Research & Planning (IRP) webpage for Southwestern College provides resources and information on data analysis aimed at improving student access and success. It describes various tools and documents such as data dashboards, data resources, institutional planning manuals, plans, reports, strategic plans, and student learning outcomes assessments, emphasizing the office's role in facilitating data-informed decision-making and equity-minded practices.swccd.edu
- Strategic planSWC Strategic Plan 2021-20252021Southwestern College's Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 outlines goals and objectives aimed at enhancing student access and success, alongside fostering economic, workforce, and community development. Key components of the plan include community engagement through forums and gathering input on crucial topics affecting the college and its stakeholders. The strategic plan endeavors to align institutional goals with the needs of students and the larger community.swccd.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of Southwestern College (7)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Brian BilbrayPolitics
- Ammar Campa-NajjarPolitics
- OokayMusic
- Tom WaitsMusic
- J. Michael StraczynskiTelevision
- Julieta VenegasMusic
- Dominik MysterioWrestling
Frequently asked questions about Southwestern College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Southwestern College.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern College?
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern College?
How many students attend Southwestern College?
What is the average net price at Southwestern College?
Where is Southwestern College located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Southwestern College?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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