Cerro Coso Community College vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, 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 Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerro Coso Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; Golden West College 29:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College ($6,681 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 2.2% lower than at Cerro Coso Community College ($23,659 vs. $24,192).
• Cerro Coso Community College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $4 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Golden West College than at Cerro Coso Community College (about $374 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $11,254.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Cerro Coso Community College (82% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 25.3% larger than aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students ($6,849 vs. $5,464).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; Golden West College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community 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 Golden West College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.