Fullerton College vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fullerton College vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College ($6,681 vs. $8,306).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 20% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $230 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at Fullerton College than at Golden West College (about $751 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Golden West College (87% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 29.2% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($6,849 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 Fullerton College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 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 Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 39%)

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.