Chula Vista, California · Public · 2-year · Large city
Overview
Southwestern College is a public two-year institution based in Chula Vista, California. The campus sits in a large city. Fall 2024 enrollment was 20,986 students.
Southwestern College offers certificates and associate degrees across 121 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology, General. It awarded 3,781 degrees and certificates in 2024-25.
The school has an open admission policy. 70% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 26 to 1.
Key figures
Open
Admission policy
20,986
Students enrolled
70%
First-year retention
3,781
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
121
Programs and majors
26:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateAssociate
Programs and majors offered 121
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
70%
First-year retention, part-time students
39%
Student-to-faculty ratio
26:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Associate degrees
2,395
Certificates under 1 year
769
Certificates of 1 to 2 years
617
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
20,986
Undergraduates, fall 2024
20,986
Full-time, fall 2024
39%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
29,888
Full-time, 2024-25
32%
Size category
20,000 students or more
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
52%
Men
48%
White
20%
Hispanic or Latino
57%
Black or African American
5%
Asian
9%
Two or more races
3%
Race or ethnicity unknown
5%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs with a fully online option
4
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
32%
Students taking some online courses
40%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Large city
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Superintendent/President
Dr. Mark Sanchez
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization