Golden West College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (12,334 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 Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Golden West College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($6,681 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 11.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $140 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Golden West College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $1,196 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Santa Barbara City College (82% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 16.3% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,849 vs. $5,889).

Golden West College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Golden West College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and SBCC? 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 Barbara City College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $4,016 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($5,484 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($56 vs. $98).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 39%)

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.