Golden West College

15744 Goldenwest St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • The mission of Golden West College is to support students' goals and interests in higher education, develop their employment skills, prepare them to be productive citizens, and respond to community needs by providing a range and variety of educational programs; two year degrees; transfer preparation; career and technical training, and remedial activities. We encourage all members of our learning communities to grow to their maximum potential as they contribute to the well-being of our diverse society.

School Highlights

Golden West College serves 11,396 students (31% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 25:1 is higher than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is less than the state average of 74%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 11,396 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,176
  • Out-state tuition: $5,472
  • Student:teacher ratio: 25:1
  • Minority enrollment: 72%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Golden West College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

The teacher population of 461 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Golden West College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
461 staff
312 staff
This chart display total faculty of Golden West College and community college average number of faculty in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Golden West College has declined by 5% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 25:1 has decreased from 26:1 over five years.
The Golden West College diversity score of 0.73 is more than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
11,396 students
7,900 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Golden West College and community college average number of enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
25:1
21:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Golden West College and community college average student staff ratio of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
3,505 students
1,661 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Golden West College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
7,891 students
6,239 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Golden West College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Golden West College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of CA.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
755 students
302 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
3,505 students
1,646 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Golden West College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
54 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
7,891 students
6,288 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Golden West College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
% Asian
30%
13%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Golden West College and the percentage of Asian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
31%
45%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Golden West College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
2%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Golden West College and the percentage of Black community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
28%
26%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Golden West College and the percentage of White community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
This chart display the percentage of Hawaiian students in Golden West College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2011-12 school year data.
% Two or more races
5%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Golden West College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
3%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in Golden West College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
1%
4%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Golden West College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in CA.
Diversity Score
0.73
0.71
This chart display the diversity score of Golden West College and the community college average diversity score of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
41%
35%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Golden West College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
1.92%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$36,600
$34,700
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Golden West College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of CA by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $1,176 is less than the state average of $1,993. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $5,472 is less than the state average of $7,120. The out-state tuition has declined by 16% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,176
$1,993
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Golden West College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$5,472
$7,120
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Golden West College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
85%
86%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Golden West College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$9,000
$10,500
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Golden West College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$6,239
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Golden West College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Golden West College is part of the California Community College system and was founded in 1965. On 120 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, GWC serves 13,000 students and is considered a medium-size, two-year college. GWC provides an Associate degree in most subjects, a strong university transfer program, in addition to a wide variety of short-term vocational [Certificate] options-- offering over 60 major areas. It provides a safe and secure location, a multicultural environment, an active student body and is proud of its newly developed honors program. The college is highly regarded for academic quality and innovation. In its earliest years, the college was recognized for its pioneering leadership in designing learning-centered programs and services for its student body and continues in that tradition to this day. Golden West College is committed to excellence and endeavors to provide an optimum teaching and learning environment. This will be demonstrated by innovation which embraces demographic and technological changes. Golden West College is fortunate to be located in one of the safest cities in the country. Our educational philosophy is founded on ethical conduct and teamwork. To ensure institutional excellence, we continually challenge, test, reevaluate and raise our standards. As an educational organization, we have high expectations and believe that our success depends upon the combined capability and contribution of faculty, staff, students and members of our community. Golden West College offers many Career Certificate programs that prepare students by providing them with the entry or advanced level knowledge and skills critical for successful employment. Our Career Certificate programs are taught by highly qualified faculty who are dedicated to the students they serve and provide them with the best education possible. The Performing Arts Department, a part of the Creative Arts Division at Golden West College, provides an excellent education for students of Dance Multi Media, Music, and Theater. You will be taught by instructors who are highly regarded professionals in their fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Golden West College cost?
Golden West College's tuition is approximately $1,176 for In-State students and $5,472 for Out-State students.
What is Golden West College's ranking?
Golden West College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Least expensive tuition.

Recent Articles

Healthcare Careers Hub
Healthcare Careers Hub
Discover the opportunities in the healthcare field. Your community college offers the courses and training you need to fill a job in this field that always seems to have openings.
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
Can you really have an authentic college experience while living off-campus? This article explores the pros and cons of campus housing for community college students.
Community Colleges: A to Z
February 21, 2024
Community Colleges: A to Z
Explore the diverse landscape of community colleges with our comprehensive guide, 'Community CollegeS: A to Z.' From academic programs to student support services, this article provides a look at everything community colleges have to offer.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 11,396 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,176
  • Out-state tuition: $5,472
  • Student:teacher ratio: 25:1
  • Minority enrollment: 72%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Orange County, CA public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $1,182 per year for in-state students and $6,344 for out-of-state students. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

Orange County, CA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.67, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Orange County, CA is South Coast College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

Quick Links