Golden West College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Golden West College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Riverside City 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 Riverside City College ($6,681 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 11.5% lower than at Riverside City College ($23,659 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $48 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Riverside City College than at Golden West College (about $870 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Riverside City College (82% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 6% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,849 vs. $6,463).

Golden West College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or Riverside City 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 Riverside City 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; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Golden West College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Riverside City 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 $1,000 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $2,516 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($5,484 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($56 vs. $82).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 41%)

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.