Cuesta College vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Golden West College 29:1.

Cuesta College vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College ($6,681 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $30 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Golden West College than at Cuesta College (about $618 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Cuesta College (82% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 65.3% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,849 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuesta College - Open admission; Golden West College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $5,766 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($5,484 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($56 vs. $116).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuesta College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 51%)

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.