Established in 1961, Southwestern College is one of 109 public community colleges in the state of California and the only institute of higher education located in the southern part of San Diego County.

Serving nearly 18,000 students annually, Southwestern College offers more than 285 associate degree and certificate options. The College is committed to meet the educational goals of all students so it has something to offer for everyone. Whether pursuing an A.A. degree, preparing to transfer to a four-year college or university, or acquiring new professional skills, students of Southwestern College are given an opportunity to meet their educational ambitions.

Southwestern College offers following academic programs Administration of Justice, Architecture Program, Associate Degree Nursing, Automotive Technology, Biotechnology, Certified Nursing Assistant, Child Development, Computer Aided Design and Drafting, Paramedics, Environmental Technology, Fitness Specialist Certification, Honors Program, International Studies, Pharmaceutical and Laboratory Science, Police Academy Training Program, Recording Arts and Technology, Southwestern Teacher Education Preparation Program, Surgical Technology Program, Telemedia, The Small Business Development and many others.

Financial Aid
To apply for Financial Aid students must complete a FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. They may pick up a FAFSA in the Financial Aid office or simply may find it online. Financial Aid programs available at Southwestern College are mostly funded through the State and Federal Government; therefore, the College is required by law to follow regulations when awarding financial aid.

Career Center
The Career Center offers personalized career counseling appointments, workshops, walk-in assistance and online access to career research software. Career Center helps students to discover career possibilities through: 35 computer workstations used for career research, access to job descriptions, experienced career and academic counsellors, career assessment software.