Gavilan College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gavilan College 27:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Gavilan College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gavilan College or CSM? 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 College of San Mateo than Gavilan College ($5,831 vs. $8,753).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• Gavilan College is 13.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $176 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Gavilan College than at College of San Mateo (about $865 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at College of San Mateo (83% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 27.2% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,577 vs. $4,386).

Gavilan College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gavilan College or CSM? 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 CSM and Gavilan College.

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

Gavilan College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gavilan College and CSM? 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 San Mateo earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($7,000 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($72 vs. $77).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.