Golden West College vs. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

Golden West College vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or SAC? 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 Santa Ana College than Golden West College ($5,894 vs. $6,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 6.5% lower than at Golden West College ($22,126 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 16.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $200 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Golden West College than at Santa Ana College (about $872 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,756.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Golden West College (89% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Santa Ana College students ($6,849 vs. $6,768).

Golden West College vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

Golden West College vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and SAC? 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 Santa Ana College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $2,016 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($5,484 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)

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.