Golden West College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Golden West College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College ($6,681 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 31.1% lower than at MiraCosta College ($23,659 vs. $34,328).
• Golden West College is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $222 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at Golden West College than at MiraCosta College (about $1,878 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at MiraCosta College (82% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 36.6% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,849 vs. $5,013).

Golden West College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and MiraCosta 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 $4,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $984 lower median loan debt than Golden West College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,484).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Golden West College graduates ($46 vs. $56).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 46%)

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.