Cabrillo College vs. Gavilan College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA with Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cabrillo College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (9,457 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Gavilan College is in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Gavilan College 27:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Gavilan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College or Gavilan College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gavilan College than Cabrillo College ($8,753 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 12.6% lower than at Cabrillo College ($22,086 vs. $25,281).
• Gavilan College is 18.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $238 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.2% higher at Gavilan College than at Cabrillo College (about $2,387 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Gavilan College (85% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cabrillo College students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Gavilan College students ($5,600 vs. $5,577).

Cabrillo College vs. Gavilan College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo College or Gavilan College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Gavilan College and Cabrillo College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; Gavilan College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. Gavilan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College and Gavilan College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Cabrillo College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gavilan College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Gavilan College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($77 vs. $108).
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.