Cabrillo College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Aptos, California. It enrolls 8,002 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes56
Value38
Affordability27
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Cabrillo College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cabrillo College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,843 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,843
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,270
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,862
Room & Board (off-campus)
$25,281
Books & Supplies
$2,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,578
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,966
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,656
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,911
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,780
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,252
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,20910%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$14,380Medianpercentile
$15,50075%percentile
$25,26190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $4,880
No Pell $8,113
↓ $6,267
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $8,880
Independent students $10,500
↓ $3,880
Female students $9,500
↓ $4,880
Male students $9,366
↓ $5,014
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,000, less than completers ($14,380), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
16% of full-time students who enrolled at Cabrillo College graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
16%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cabrillo College earn a median of $44,114 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,114
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,800, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.8 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Cabrillo College is home to 8,002 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 65% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
8,002
Part-Time
65%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 50.1%4,012
White 37.8%3,025
Other 5.9%471
Asian 2.7%219
Black 0.8%64
International 0.7%54
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cabrillo College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbAptos, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
35%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Cabrillo College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
64 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cabrillo College is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,960
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$34M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$92,910
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
204 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
204
100%
$92,910
Pros & Cons of Cabrillo College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cabrillo College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Cabrillo College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cabrillo College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cabrillo College.
Is Cabrillo College hard to get into?
Cabrillo College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Cabrillo College?
Cabrillo College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Cabrillo College cost?
The average net price after aid at Cabrillo College is $15,843 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cabrillo College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,114 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,843 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cabrillo College known for?
Cabrillo College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Kinesiology, Human Development. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cabrillo College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cabrillo College are $44,114, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cabrillo College accredited?
Yes. Cabrillo College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Cabrillo College?
Cabrillo College enrolls 8,002 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cabrillo College?
Cabrillo College graduates 16% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cabrillo College a public or private college?
Cabrillo College is a Public institution.
Where is Cabrillo College located?
Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, California.
What programs does Cabrillo College offer?
Cabrillo College offers 64 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Kinesiology, Human Development.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cabrillo College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cabrillo College is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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