Gavilan College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

West Valley College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (7,655 students vs. 6,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Gavilan College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gavilan College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than Gavilan College ($7,270 vs. $8,753).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 37.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,086 vs. $35,361).
• Gavilan College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Valley College (about $18 more per year; $1,508.00 vs. $1,490.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at Gavilan College than at West Valley College (about $3,547 more per year; $12,249.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at West Valley College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 16% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,577 vs. $4,806).

Gavilan College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Gavilan College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gavilan College and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Gavilan College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College 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.