Golden West College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 10,721 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 24.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($23,659 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.3% higher at Golden West College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,626 more per year; $11,628 vs. $10,002).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Golden West College than at San Diego Mesa College (82% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 20.5% larger than aid received by Golden West College students ($8,252 vs. $6,849).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Golden West College and San Diego Mesa College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $984 lower median loan debt than Golden West College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,484).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Golden West College graduates ($46 vs. $56).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation (53% vs. 41%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.