Golden West College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (23,453 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 Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Golden West College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or SMC? 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 Monica College than Golden West College ($5,685 vs. $6,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 8.7% lower than at Santa Monica College ($23,659 vs. $25,908).
• Golden West College is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $224 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at Golden West College than at Santa Monica College (about $920 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,708.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Santa Monica College (82% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 23.6% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,849 vs. $5,540).

Golden West College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Golden West College or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Golden West College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and SMC? 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 Monica College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $1,016 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($5,484 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($56 vs. $67).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 45%)

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.