Golden West College vs. SRJC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Rosa Junior College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (17,854 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 Rosa Junior College is in Santa Rosa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Santa Rosa Junior College 20:1.

Golden West College vs. SRJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or SRJC? 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 SRJC ($6,681 vs. $8,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Rosa Junior College are 8.4% lower than at Golden West College ($21,676 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SRJC (about $62 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,318.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Golden West College than at Santa Rosa Junior College (about $320 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $11,308.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College as at Santa Rosa Junior College (82% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 24.9% larger than aid received by Santa Rosa Junior College students ($6,849 vs. $5,485).

Golden West College vs. SRJC Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. SRJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and SRJC? 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 Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $2,516 lower median loan debt than SRJC graduates ($5,484 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SRJC graduates ($56 vs. $82).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SRJC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 50%)

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.