Golden West College vs. RHC

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Hondo College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

Golden West College vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or RHC? 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 RHC ($6,681 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Rio Hondo College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $8 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Golden West College than at Rio Hondo College (about $1,744 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Golden West College (85% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($6,849 vs. $5,049).

Golden West College vs. RHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or RHC? 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 RHC 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; RHC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027.

Golden West College vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and RHC? 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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 34%)

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.