Golden West College vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego City College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (13,242 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

Golden West College vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or San Diego 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 San Diego City College ($6,681 vs. $10,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 24.3% lower than at San Diego City College ($23,659 vs. $31,243).
• Golden West College is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $234 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.3% higher at Golden West College than at San Diego City College (about $1,626 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego City College than at Golden West College (87% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 53.3% larger than aid received by Golden West College students ($10,500 vs. $6,849).

Golden West College vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and San Diego 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 $3,800 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $984 lower median loan debt than Golden West College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,484).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Golden West College graduates ($46 vs. $56).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City 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.