Gavilan College vs. SMC

Deciding between Gavilan College and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Gavilan College Gilroy, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Gavilan College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Gavilan College 6,083
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Gavilan College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Gavilan College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Gavilan College $1,508
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Gavilan College $12,249
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Gavilan College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Gavilan College $8,753
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Gavilan College $5,577
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Gavilan College 83%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Gavilan College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Gavilan College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Gavilan College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Gavilan College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Gavilan College 27:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Gavilan College
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Gavilan College $33,600
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Gavilan College 30%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Gavilan College $7,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Gavilan College $77
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Gavilan College 45%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Gavilan College 55%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Gavilan College Medium
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Gavilan College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Gavilan College 31%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Gavilan College 5%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Gavilan College 2%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Gavilan College 57%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Gavilan College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Gavilan College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Gavilan College 2%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Gavilan College 0%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Gavilan College 2%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Gavilan College 100%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Gavilan College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Gavilan College No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Gavilan College No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Gavilan College No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Gavilan College No
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Gavilan College Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Gavilan College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gavilan College or SMC? 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 Santa Monica College than Gavilan College ($5,685 vs. $8,753).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Gavilan College is 30.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $352 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Gavilan College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,541 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at Santa Monica College (83% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,577 vs. $5,540).

Gavilan College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gavilan College or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Gavilan College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gavilan College and SMC? 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 Santa Monica College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($67 vs. $77).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.