Golden West College vs. College of the Redwoods

Comparable Facts

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

Golden West College is larger than College of the Redwoods based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 4,706 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Golden West College vs. College of the Redwoods Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or College of the Redwoods? 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 the Redwoods ($6,681 vs. $9,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Redwoods are 48.8% lower than at Golden West College ($12,117 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Redwoods (about $182 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,198.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.3% higher at Golden West College than at College of the Redwoods (about $2,774 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $8,854.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Redwoods than at Golden West College (90% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by College of the Redwoods students ($6,849 vs. $6,288).

Golden West College vs. College of the Redwoods Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or College of the Redwoods? 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 the Redwoods 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 the Redwoods - Open admission.

Golden West College vs. College of the Redwoods Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and College of the Redwoods? 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 Golden West College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than College of the Redwoods graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $1,777 lower median loan debt than College of the Redwoods graduates ($5,484 vs. $7,261).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Redwoods graduates ($56 vs. $75).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Redwoods students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 33%)

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.