Golden West College

https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $1,288
    16.7% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $6,681
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Enrolled Students
    10,721
    27% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    49.1%
    445 Graduates

    About

    Golden West College is a higher education institution located in Orange County, CA. In 2024, the most popular 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentrations at Golden West College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,286 degrees awarded) and General Cosmetology (90 degrees).

    In 2024, 5,486 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Golden West College. 56.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 43.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was hispanic or latino (1,813 degrees), 1.06 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,704 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Golden West College is $1,288, which is $−6,872 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

    Associates Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/NontraditionalAssociates Colleges

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Golden West College is $1,288, which is $6,872 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $6,681.

    In 2024, 55% of undergraduate students attending Golden West College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 2% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $1,288
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at Golden West College was $1,288. The cost of tuition at Golden West College is $−6,872 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of Golden West College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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    Average Net Price

    $6,681
    2024 Value
    22.9%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Golden West College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,681. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Golden West College grew by 22.9%.

    This chart compares the average net price of Golden West College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $23,659
    Room and Board
    $1,465
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Golden West College was of $23,659 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 33% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,465. The cost of books and supplies increased by 27.2% during the same period.

    This chart compares the average student costs at Golden West College (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    55%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    2%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    55% of undergraduate students at Golden West College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 5.77% with respect to 2023, when 52% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at Golden West College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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    Enrollment

    Golden West College had a total enrollment of 10,721 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Golden West College is 2,892 students and the part-time enrollment is 7,829. This means that 27% of students enrolled at Golden West College are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Golden West College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 34% Hispanic or Latino, 30% Asian, 23% White, 4.88% Two or More Races, 1.71% Black or African American, 0.401% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.159% American Indian or Alaska Native.

    Students enrolled at Golden West College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (20.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Male (16.3%) and Asian Male (15.7%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    27%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Golden West College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 10,721 students. The full-time enrollment at Golden West College is 2,892 and the part-time enrollment is 7,829. This means that 27% of students enrolled at Golden West College are enrolled full-time compared with 31.9% at similar Associates Colleges.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Golden West College (in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Retention Rate over Time

    70%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Golden West College was 70%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (64%), Golden West College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at Golden West College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. Hispanic or Latino
      3,646 enrolled students
    2. Asian
      3,218 enrolled students
    3. White
      2,466 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Golden West College is 34% Hispanic or Latino, 30% Asian, 23% White, 4.88% Two or More Races, 1.71% Black or African American, 0.401% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.159% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 41.3% White, 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

    Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 372 students (3.47%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 702 more women than men received degrees from Golden West College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Golden West College is hispanic or latino (1,813 degrees awarded). There were 1.06 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,704 degrees).

    The most common 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentration at Golden West College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,286 degrees awarded), followed by General Cosmetology (90 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Golden West College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Liberal Arts & Humanities (3,358 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (374 degrees), and Protective Services (233 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Golden West College are Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (368,734 people), Other managers (335,659 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (222,021 people), Police officers (179,777 people), and Chief executives & legislators (138,968 people).

    The most specialized majors at Golden West College in 2024 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (3,358 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (374 degrees), Protective Services (233 degrees), Social Sciences (232 degrees), and Personal & Culinary Services (190 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Surgeons
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Golden West College are Surgeons, Correspondence clerks & order clerks, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

    The most specialized majors at Golden West College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (3,358 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (374 degrees), Protective Services (233 degrees), Social Sciences (232 degrees), and Personal & Culinary Services (190 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Common Industries by Major

    Elementary & secondary schools
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Golden West College are Elementary & secondary schools (530,783 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (490,248 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (312,889 people), Legal services (312,355 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (250,826 people).

    The most specialized majors at Golden West College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (3,358 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (374 degrees), Protective Services (233 degrees), Social Sciences (232 degrees), and Personal & Culinary Services (190 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Golden West College.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. Liberal Arts & Sciences
      1,286 degrees awarded
    2. General Cosmetology
      90 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Golden West College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 1,286 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Golden West College according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    2,392
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    3,094
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 2,392 degrees were awarded to men at Golden West College, which is 0.773 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,094).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Golden West College by degrees awarded.

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 1,089 degrees were awarded to men at Golden West College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.793 times less than the 1,373 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 1,373 degrees were awarded to men at Golden West College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.26 times more than the 1,089 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    27%
    100% Completion Time
    45%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 27% of students graduating from Golden West College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 45% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 51% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. Hispanic or Latino
      1,813 degrees awarded
    2. Asian
      1,704 degrees awarded
    3. White
      1,429 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Golden West College is hispanic or latino (1,813 degrees awarded). There were 1.06 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,704 degrees).

    1.95% of degree recipients (107 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. Hispanic or Latino Female
      1,872 degrees awarded
    2. White Female
      1,764 degrees awarded
    3. Asian Female
      1,587 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Golden West College is hispanic or latino female (1,872 degrees awarded). There were 1.06 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,764 degrees).

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    Operations

    Golden West College has an endowment valued at nearly $13.6M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 3.5M (25.7%) compared to the 12.8% average return (818k on 6.41M) across all Associates Colleges.

    In 2024, Golden West College had a total salary expenditure of 122M. Golden West College employs 121 Instructors. Most academics at Golden West College are Female Instructor (72), and Male Instructor (49).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Golden West College are: Office and Administrative Support, with 61 employees, Service, with 43 employees, and Management with 31 employees.

    Endowment

    $13.6M
    2024 Endowment
    8.75%
    growth from 2023

    Golden West College has an endowment valued at about $13.6M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Golden West College grew 8.75% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $7.2M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

    This line chart shows how the endowment at Golden West College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

    The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Government Grants and Contracts

    Grants & Contracts
    1. $1.23M - Federal
    2. $20.3M - State
    3. $2.23M - Local

    As of 2024, Golden West College received $1.23M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $20.3M from state grants and contracts, and $2.23M from local grants and contracts.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $53M
    2024 Salaries
    9.7%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, Golden West College paid a median of $53M in salaries, which represents 43.4% of their overall expenditure ($122M) and a 9.7% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.07% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.18% growth between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $17M
    Instructional Salaries
    121
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Golden West College paid a total of $17M to 121 employees working as instructors, which represents 32% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $720k (4.04%) for similar Associates Colleges.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Golden West College were Office and Administrative Support with 61 employees, Service with 43 employees, and Management with 31 employees.

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