Golden West College
Tel:
(714)892-7711
- 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 12,394 students (35% of students are full-time).
- Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is less than the state average of 68%.
- Golden West College is one of 17 community colleges within Orange County, CA.
- The nearest community college to Golden West College is Coastline Community College (4.4 miles away).
Top Placements
Golden West College places among the top 20% of community colleges in California for:
- Category Attribute
- Affordability Least expensive tuition
- Debt For Students Least debt for graduating students
School Overview
- The teacher population of 240 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
| Golden West College | (CA) Community College Avg. | |
| Institution Level | At least 2 but less than 4 years | At least 2 but less than 4 years |
| Institution Control | Public | Public |
| Total Faculty | 240 staff | 97 staff |
| Total Enrollment | 12,394 students | 7,516 students |
 | ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 52:1 | 44:1 |
| # Full-Time Students | 4,394 students | 1,613 students |
| # Part-Time Students | 8,000 students | 5,903 students |
 |  | |
| % American Indian/Alaskan | - | - |
| % Asian | 25% | 13% |
| % Hispanic | 26% | 37% |
| % Black | 1% | 7% |
| % White | 38% | 32% |
| % Hawaiian | - | - |
| % Two or more races | 4% | 3% |
| % Non Resident races | 3% | 3% |
| % Unknown races | 3% | 5% |
 |  | |
| Diversity Score | 0.72 | 0.73 |
 | ||
| College Completion Rate | 35% | 29% |
| Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) | $36,600 | $34,600 |
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) 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.
Nearby Schools
- The nearest community college to Golden West College is Coastline Community College (4.4 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- 24,886 students | 4.40 Mi11460 Warner Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714)546-7600 4.4024,886 - Concorde Career College-Garden GrovePrivate, for profit974 students | 4.70 Mi12951 Euclid Street, Suite 101
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(714)703-1900 4.70974 - Cypress CollegePublic15,816 students | 6.80 Mi9200 Valley View
Cypress, CA 90630
(714)484-7000 6.8015,816 - 21,247 students | 6.80 Mi2701 Fairview Road
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(714)432-5072 6.8021,247 - Santa Ana CollegePublic29,590 students | 6.80 Mi1530 W. 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714)564-6000 6.8029,590
Recent Articles
We continue to report on the ongoing saga in the California community college system. Schools are now opening for fall semester with fewer courses due to serious budget cuts, and students are feeling the academic pain.
The role of community colleges in the world of higher education has expanded over the years and, as the country works to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, they may be more important now than ever. Read on to learn more about the changing role of community colleges.
Colleges across the country are struggling to recover from the massive upheaval to the 2019-20 semester wrought by COVID-19. Housing refunds and slashed budgets are bound to have long-term impacts for the institutions that survive. Some experts suggest community colleges may be the best equipped to ride out the storm and may have the greatest impact in helping America recover.
