Golden West College vs. College of Marin

Comparable Facts

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

Golden West College is larger than College of Marin based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of Marin is in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; College of Marin 17:1.

Golden West College vs. College of Marin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or College of Marin? 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 College of Marin ($6,681 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 4% lower than at College of Marin ($23,659 vs. $24,645).
• College of Marin is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $178 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.6% higher at Golden West College than at College of Marin (about $2,294 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at College of Marin (82% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 12% larger than aid received by College of Marin students ($6,849 vs. $6,117).

Golden West College vs. College of Marin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or College of Marin? 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 College of Marin and Golden West College.

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

Golden West College vs. College of Marin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and College of Marin? 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 College of Marin earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $8,891 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($5,484 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($56 vs. $148).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 29%)

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.