Golden West College
About
Golden West College is a community college located in Huntington Beach, California, founded in 1965 and part of the Coast Community College District. The college spans 122 acres and offers programs focused on transferring to four-year universities, earning associate degrees, and career and technical education, having awarded over 5,000 degrees and certificates in Spring 2023.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 4.5-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 151 Title IV programs, 1 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 149 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing1 · 0.7%
- No Data149 · 98.7%
- Failing1 · 0.7%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Programmatic accreditations · 1
Action history · 5
- Sep 2023Grant Substantive Change: OtherAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Sep 2022Renewal of AccreditationAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Jun 2019Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Mar 2018Grant Substantive Change: OtherAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Jun 2015Accreditation Reaffirmed: Warning RemovedAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 2,970 students received $14.9M in Pell grants, alongside $1.1M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 203 borrowers who entered repayment, 8 (3.9%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Golden West College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 10
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus9
- Non-campus3
- Public property1
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Golden West College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Golden West College selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectGolden West College | 49% | Open admission | 10,721 | $4,824 | Community College |
| — | Open admission | 11,463 | $5,383 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 19,342 | $4,621 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 20,375 | $3,345 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 15,085 | $12,726 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 18,075 | $3,702 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,283 | $12,124 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 18,165 | $5,606 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 33,677 | $10,852 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | — | $4,181 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 10,251 | $6,026 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,098 | $5,975 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 8,643 | $11,133 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 13,018 | $2,090 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 16,906 | $13,270 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 15,999 | $12,152 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 17,077 | $12,132 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 12,044 | $2,288 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 18,835 | $8,027 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,351 | $5,169 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 56,457 | $9,919 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 20,060 | $4,525 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 15,287 | $5,777 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 10,660 | $12,055 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 20,861 | $10,405 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,473 | $8,672 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 20,764 | $4,152 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 27,437 | $9,804 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 17,854 | $6,331 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 9,359 | $9,373 | Community College | |
| Peer group median | 49% | — | 15,999 | $6,179 |
Institutions like Golden West College
Explore the federal data for institutions in Golden West College's comparison group.
- Community CollegeCalifornia
Allan Hancock College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,463Net price$5,383View data - Community CollegeNew Mexico
Central New Mexico Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,342Net price$4,621View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Central Piedmont Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment20,375Net price$3,345View data - Community CollegeArizona
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,085Net price$12,726View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
College of the Canyons
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,075Net price$3,702View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Cuesta College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,283Net price$12,124View data - Community CollegeNew York
CUNY Kingsborough Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,165Net price$5,606View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
East Los Angeles College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment33,677Net price$10,852View data - Community CollegeOhio
Eastern Gateway Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment—Net price$4,181View data - Community CollegeIllinois
Elgin Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment10,251Net price$6,026View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Folsom Lake College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,098Net price$5,975View data - Community CollegeMaryland
Howard Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,643Net price$11,133View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Irvine Valley College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,018Net price$2,090View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Los Angeles Pierce College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment16,906Net price$13,270View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Los Angeles Valley College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,999Net price$12,152View data - Community CollegeArizona
Mesa Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment17,077Net price$12,132View data - Community CollegeNew Jersey
Middlesex College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,044Net price$2,288View data - Community CollegeMaryland
Montgomery College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,835Net price$8,027View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Norco College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,351Net price$5,169View data - Community CollegeVirginia
Northern Virginia Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment56,457Net price$9,919View data - Community CollegeTexas
Northwest Vista College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment20,060Net price$4,525View data - Community CollegeMichigan
Oakland Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,287Net price$5,777View data - Community CollegeArizona
Phoenix College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment10,660Net price$12,055View data - Community CollegeOregon
Portland Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment20,861Net price$10,405View data - Community CollegeMaryland
Prince George's Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,473Net price$8,672View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Saddleback College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment20,764Net price$4,152View data - Community CollegeUtah
Salt Lake Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment27,437Net price$9,804View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Santa Rosa Junior College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment17,854Net price$6,331View data - Community CollegeNew York
SUNY Westchester Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,359Net price$9,373View data
Golden West College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness (ORPIE) provides services that help campus leaders make more informed decisions to improve processes, programs, and services that impact student learning and success.
Visit IR office page- Lauren Davis SosenkoDean of Institutional Effectiveness
- C.J. Bishop, Ph.D.Senior Research Analyst
- Teresa RodriguezAdministrative Assistant
- Jeannette Jaramillo, MPPSenior Research Analyst - Equity
Reports & documents (3)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardgoldenwestcollege.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planGolden West College Strategic Plan 2025-20292025Golden West College's Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 builds on the framework of the Vision 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan with a focused approach on seven strategic goals. These goals emphasize enrollment growth, equity and success, timely student completion, workforce preparation, and the enhancement of facilities, professional development, and communication. The plan sets ambitious targets, such as significant increases in enrollment metrics and student success outcomes, aligning with state and institutional objectives.goldenwestcollege.edu
Notable alumni of Golden West College (2)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Wendi McLendon-CoveyActing
- Michelle PfeifferActing
Frequently asked questions about Golden West College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Golden West College.
What is the acceptance rate at Golden West College?
What is the graduation rate at Golden West College?
How many students attend Golden West College?
What is the average net price at Golden West College?
Where is Golden West College located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Golden West College?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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