Golden West College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

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

Golden West College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Golden West College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Smith Chason 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 Smith Chason College ($6,681 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Smith Chason College is 1,279.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $17,660 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.7% higher at Smith Chason College than at Golden West College (about $7,412 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Smith Chason College (82% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Smith Chason College students ($6,849 vs. $6,731).

Golden West College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Smith Chason 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 Smith Chason College earn a median of about $19,200 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $14,516 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($5,484 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($56 vs. $206).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith Chason College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 48%)

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.