Gavilan College vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

Compare Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA with Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Golden West College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gavilan College 27:1; Golden West College 29:1.

Gavilan College vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gavilan College or Golden West 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 Golden West College than Gavilan College ($6,681 vs. $8,753).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 6.6% lower than at Golden West College ($22,086 vs. $23,659).
• Gavilan College is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Golden West College (about $128 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.3% higher at Gavilan College than at Golden West College (about $621 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $11,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at Golden West College (83% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 22.8% larger than aid received by Gavilan College students ($6,849 vs. $5,577).

Gavilan College vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gavilan College or Golden West 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 Golden West College 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; Golden West College - Open admission.

Gavilan College vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gavilan College and Golden West 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 Golden West College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Golden West College graduates have a $2,016 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($5,484 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Golden West College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.