Golden West College vs. Hartnell College

Comparable Facts

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

Hartnell College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (11,273 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Hartnell College is in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Hartnell College 22:1.

Golden West College vs. Hartnell College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than Golden West College ($5,246 vs. $6,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 18.3% lower than at Hartnell College ($23,659 vs. $28,953).
• Hartnell College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $24 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Golden West College than at Hartnell College (about $1,254 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Golden West College (94% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 9.4% larger than aid received by Hartnell College students ($6,849 vs. $6,263).

Golden West College vs. Hartnell College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or Hartnell 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 Hartnell College 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; Hartnell College - Open admission.

Golden West College vs. Hartnell College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Hartnell 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 Golden West College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 27%)

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.