ARC vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Golden West College 29:1.

ARC vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Golden West College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Golden West College than ARC ($6,681 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $92 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at ARC than at Golden West College (about $988 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Golden West College (89% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 25.5% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,849 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Golden West College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Golden West College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Golden West College - Open admission.

ARC vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Golden West College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Golden West College earn a median of about $400 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $6,749 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($5,484 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($56 vs. $126).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.