Gavilan College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gavilan College 27:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Gavilan College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gavilan College or MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College ($8,753 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Gavilan College is 30.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $350 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.6% higher at Gavilan College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,499 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at MiraCosta College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 11.3% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,577 vs. $5,013).

Gavilan College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

Gavilan College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gavilan College and MiraCosta 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 Gavilan College earn a median of about $600 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More MiraCosta 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.