Foothill College vs. Gavilan College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA with Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Gavilan College is in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Gavilan College 27:1.

Foothill College vs. Gavilan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($8,753 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Gavilan College ($20,793 vs. $22,086).
• Foothill College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gavilan College (about $57 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,508.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Foothill College than at Gavilan College (about $341 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $12,249.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at Foothill College (83% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 32.1% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,577 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Gavilan College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill 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 Foothill College.

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

Foothill College vs. Gavilan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $25,800 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gavilan College graduates have a $1,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($7,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Gavilan College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($77 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.