Golden West College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Golden West College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Merced 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 Merced College ($6,681 vs. $6,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 17.9% lower than at Golden West College ($19,432 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $180 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.5% higher at Golden West College than at Merced College (about $3,108 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Golden West College (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Golden West College students ($7,480 vs. $6,849).

Golden West College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Merced 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 $6,700 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.