Golden West College vs. Napa Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Golden West College is larger than Napa Valley College based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 4,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Napa Valley College is in Napa, CA (Small City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Napa Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Napa Valley College 21:1.

Golden West College vs. Napa Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Napa 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 Napa Valley College ($6,681 vs. $19,587).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Napa Valley College are 4.5% lower than at Golden West College ($22,599 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Napa Valley College (about $224 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Napa Valley College than at Golden West College (about $280 more per year; $11,908.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Napa Valley College than at Golden West College (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 74.4% larger than aid received by Napa Valley College students ($6,849 vs. $3,927).

Golden West College vs. Napa Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Napa Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Napa 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 from Napa Valley College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $2,016 lower median loan debt than Napa Valley College graduates ($5,484 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Napa Valley College graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Napa Valley College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 50%)

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.