College of the Desert vs. Gavilan College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Gavilan College is in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Gavilan College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. Gavilan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert 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 College of the Desert ($8,753 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Gavilan College is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $182 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at Gavilan College than at College of the Desert (about $2,075 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Gavilan College (88% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 22.3% larger than aid received by Gavilan College students ($6,822 vs. $5,577).

College of the Desert vs. Gavilan College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert 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 College of the Desert.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Desert - Open admission; Gavilan College - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. Gavilan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert 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 College of the Desert earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,162 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($55 vs. $77).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.