GCC vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Glendale Community College in Glendale, CA with West Valley College in Saratoga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Glendale Community College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,075 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, CA (Midsize City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Glendale Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Glendale Community College 28:1; West Valley College 29:1.

GCC vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCC or West Valley 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 West Valley College than GCC ($7,270 vs. $10,060).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Glendale Community College are 37.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,086 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 25.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCC (about $299 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,191.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.7% higher at GCC than at West Valley College (about $2,233 more per year; $10,935.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Glendale Community College than at West Valley College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Glendale Community College students is 33.5% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($6,418 vs. $4,806).

GCC vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCC or West Valley 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 West Valley College and GCC.

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

GCC vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCC and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than GCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More GCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 45%)

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.