Gavilan College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gavilan College 27:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Gavilan College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gavilan College or Palomar 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 Palomar College than Gavilan College ($8,372 vs. $8,753).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Gavilan College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $154 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at Gavilan College than at Palomar College (about $1,599 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at Palomar College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 12.2% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,577 vs. $4,972).

Gavilan College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

Gavilan College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gavilan College and Palomar 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($7,000 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($72 vs. $77).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.