Golden West College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Golden West College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College ($6,681 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 19% lower than at Golden West College ($19,159 vs. $23,659).
• Orange Coast College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $12 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Orange Coast College than at Golden West College (about $12 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Orange Coast College (82% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 24.7% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,849 vs. $5,493).

Golden West College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $1,016 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($5,484 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($56 vs. $67).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Orange Coast College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 51%)

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.