Golden West College vs. Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Valley College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (15,999 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Los Angeles Valley College is in Valley Glen, CA (Large City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Los Angeles Valley College 28:1.

Golden West College vs. Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or 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 Golden West College than Valley College ($6,681 vs. $13,550).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 6.9% lower than at Los Angeles Valley College ($23,659 vs. $25,407).
• Golden West College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Valley College (about $142 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Golden West College than at Los Angeles Valley College (about $1,056 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College as at Los Angeles Valley College (82% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Valley College students ($6,849 vs. $6,243).

Golden West College vs. Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and 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 of Golden West College and Valley College have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $37,000), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $3,016 lower median loan debt than Valley College graduates ($5,484 vs. $8,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valley College graduates ($56 vs. $87).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Valley 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.