Golden West College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Golden West College 29:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Golden West College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Golden West College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College ($6,681 vs. $6,888).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 17.9% lower than at Golden West College ($19,431 vs. $23,659).
• Golden West College is 16.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $200 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.4% higher at Golden West College than at Pasadena City College (about $1,808 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at Pasadena City College (82% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Pasadena City College students ($6,849 vs. $6,759).

Golden West College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

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

Golden West College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Golden West College and Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Golden West College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $16 lower median loan debt than Pasadena City College graduates ($5,484 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Pasadena City College and Golden West College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($56 vs. $56).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 36%)

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.