DVC vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA with Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Diablo Valley College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; Golden West College 29:1.

DVC vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 DVC ($6,681 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 1.8% lower than at Golden West College ($23,238 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than DVC (about $68 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at Golden West College than at Diablo Valley College (about $1,308 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Diablo Valley College (82% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 54.2% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($6,849 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DVC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 52%)

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.