College of Alameda vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Golden West College 29:1.

College of Alameda vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($6,681 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 3.5% lower than at Golden West College ($22,820 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Alameda (about $122 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at Golden West College than at College of Alameda (about $1,730 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at Golden West College (86% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 27.2% larger than aid received by College of Alameda students ($6,849 vs. $5,385).

College of Alameda vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda.

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

College of Alameda vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 $300 more per year than College of Alameda graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 30%)

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.