Golden West College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Golden West College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Golden West College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Merritt 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 Merritt College ($6,681 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 3.5% lower than at Golden West College ($22,820 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $122 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at Golden West College than at Merritt College (about $1,730 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Merritt College (82% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 37.8% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,849 vs. $4,972).

Golden West College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Merritt 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 Merritt College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $6,016 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($5,484 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($56 vs. $118).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt 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.