Foothill College vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA with Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Golden West College 29:1.

Foothill College vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($6,681 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 12.1% lower than at Golden West College ($20,793 vs. $23,659).
• Foothill College is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $185 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Foothill College than at Golden West College (about $962 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Foothill College (82% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 62.2% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,849 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $22,400 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $3,488 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($5,484 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($56 vs. $92).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 46%)

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.