Cal State Long Beach vs. Golden West College

Deciding between California State University Long Beach and Golden West College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Long Beach
Golden West College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal State Long Beach Long Beach, CA
  • Golden West College Huntington Beach, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State Long Beach Large City
  • Golden West College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State Long Beach 42,003
  • Golden West College 10,721
  • Type
  • Cal State Long Beach Public 4 Year
  • Golden West College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal State Long Beach #523
  • Golden West College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal State Long Beach -
  • Golden West College -
  • Status
  • Cal State Long Beach Non-profit
  • Golden West College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal State Long Beach
  • Golden West College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal State Long Beach $7,350
  • Golden West College $1,380
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal State Long Beach $19,950
  • Golden West College $11,628
  • Room & Board
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,612
  • Golden West College $23,659
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal State Long Beach $10,607
  • Golden West College $6,681
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal State Long Beach $11,795
  • Golden West College $6,849
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal State Long Beach 76%
  • Golden West College 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal State Long Beach 83,967
  • Golden West College -
  • Admitted
  • Cal State Long Beach 38,854
  • Golden West College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 46.3%
  • Golden West College Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cal State Long Beach 16.7%
  • Golden West College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 1130
  • Golden West College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 23
  • Golden West College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal State Long Beach 3.7
  • Golden West College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal State Long Beach A-
  • Golden West College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal State Long Beach Moderate
  • Golden West College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal State Long Beach Low
  • Golden West College
  • ACT Range
  • Cal State Long Beach 20/26
  • Golden West College
  • SAT Range
  • Cal State Long Beach 1020/1240
  • Golden West College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal State Long Beach Test-free
  • Golden West College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026
  • Golden West College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal State Long Beach 23:1
  • Golden West College 29:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal State Long Beach
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Golden West College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 54%
  • Golden West College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal State Long Beach $51,100
  • Golden West College $37,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal State Long Beach 69%
  • Golden West College 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,000
  • Golden West College $5,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal State Long Beach $155
  • Golden West College $56

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal State Long Beach 41%
  • Golden West College 47%
  • % Women
  • Cal State Long Beach 59%
  • Golden West College 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal State Long Beach Very High
  • Golden West College Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • Golden West College No
  • % White
  • Cal State Long Beach 19%
  • Golden West College 32%
  • % Asian
  • Cal State Long Beach 23%
  • Golden West College 27%
  • % Black
  • Cal State Long Beach 4%
  • Golden West College 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal State Long Beach 39%
  • Golden West College 31%
  • % Native American
  • Cal State Long Beach 0%
  • Golden West College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal State Long Beach 0%
  • Golden West College 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal State Long Beach 5%
  • Golden West College 5%
  • % International
  • Cal State Long Beach 6%
  • Golden West College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal State Long Beach 4%
  • Golden West College 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal State Long Beach 97%
  • Golden West College 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal State Long Beach 1%
  • Golden West College 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • Golden West College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • Golden West College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • Golden West College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • Golden West College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • Golden West College Yes

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Golden West College 29:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach 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 Cal State Long Beach ($6,681 vs. $10,607).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 34% lower than at Golden West College ($15,612 vs. $23,659).
  • California State University Long Beach is 432.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $5,970 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $1,380.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.6% higher at Cal State Long Beach than at Golden West College (about $8,322 more per year; $19,950.00 vs. $11,628.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at California State University Long Beach (82% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Long Beach students is 72.2% larger than aid received by Golden West College students ($11,795 vs. $6,849).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach 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 Cal State Long Beach.

  • Golden West College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Golden West College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach 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 California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $9,516 lower median loan debt than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($5,484 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($56 vs. $155).
  • More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Golden West College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 53%)

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.