Gavilan College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Gilroy, California. It enrolls 4,786 students (a mid-sized 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.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes55
Value84
Affordability46
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Gavilan 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 Gavilan 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 $6,542 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,542
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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)
$1,508
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,249
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,161
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
$5,507
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,759
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,716
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,512
Over $110,000
$11,091
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.
$1,88810%percentile
$2,75325%percentile
$8,50075%percentile
$14,00090%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
Dependent students $4,664
—
Independent students $6,459
—
What this means:
24% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
20% of full-time students who enrolled at Gavilan College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
20%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
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 Gavilan College earn a median of $47,169 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,169
Earning > $25K
70%
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
$33,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,900, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 51% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Gavilan College is home to 4,786 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students, 63% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,786
Part-Time
63%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 65.9%3,156
White 18.9%905
Asian 5.7%274
Other 4.1%197
Black 2.5%121
International 0.2%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gavilan College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeGilroy, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
37%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Gavilan College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
24 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 Gavilan College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,328
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,874
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
77 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
77
100%
$104,874
Pros & Cons of Gavilan College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gavilan College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
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, Gavilan College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gavilan College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gavilan College.
Is Gavilan College hard to get into?
Gavilan College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Gavilan College?
Gavilan College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Gavilan College cost?
The average net price after aid at Gavilan College is $6,542 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gavilan College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,169 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,542 per year. That's roughly 7.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gavilan College known for?
Gavilan College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Health/Medical Preparatory, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gavilan College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gavilan College are $47,169, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gavilan College accredited?
Yes. Gavilan College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Gavilan College?
Gavilan College enrolls 4,786 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gavilan College?
Gavilan College graduates 20% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gavilan College a public or private college?
Gavilan College is a Public institution.
Where is Gavilan College located?
Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, California.
What programs does Gavilan College offer?
Gavilan College offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Health/Medical Preparatory, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gavilan College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gavilan College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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