Golden West College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Golden West College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College ($6,681 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 8.2% lower than at Saddleback College ($23,659 vs. $25,769).
• Golden West College is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $224 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at Saddleback College than at Golden West College (about $232 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Saddleback College (82% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 48.8% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,849 vs. $4,603).

Golden West College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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 $636 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($5,484 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($56 vs. $63).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 46%)

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.