College of the Canyons vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Canyons is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (18,075 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons 25:1; Golden West College 29:1.

College of the Canyons vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons than Golden West College ($5,760 vs. $6,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 18.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $214 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.1% higher at Golden West College than at College of the Canyons (about $670 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Golden West College (83% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 49% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($6,849 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $4,713 lower median loan debt than College of the Canyons graduates ($5,484 vs. $10,197).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Canyons graduates ($56 vs. $105).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 36%)

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.