Cabrillo College vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

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

Golden West College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Golden West College 29:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College ($6,681 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 6.4% lower than at Cabrillo College ($23,659 vs. $25,281).
• Golden West College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $110 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.9% higher at Golden West College than at Cabrillo College (about $1,766 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Golden West College (85% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 22.3% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($6,849 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; Golden West College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $5,016 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($5,484 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($56 vs. $108).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cabrillo College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 40%)

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.