Golden West College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Golden West College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Palomar 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 Palomar College ($6,681 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 8.3% lower than at Palomar College ($23,659 vs. $25,804).
• Golden West College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $26 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at Golden West College than at Palomar College (about $978 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Palomar College (82% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 37.8% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,849 vs. $4,972).

Golden West College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Palomar 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $1,516 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,484 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($56 vs. $72).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 30%)

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.