City College of San Francisco vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

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

City College of San Francisco is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Golden West College 29:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco ($6,681 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 12.1% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($23,659 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 22.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $316 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Golden West College (about $3,028 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at City College of San Francisco (82% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 6.8% larger than aid received by Golden West College students ($7,318 vs. $6,849).

City College of San Francisco vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $2,766 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($5,484 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($56 vs. $85).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of San Francisco students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 39%)

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.