Public Associate Strong 73/100

Gavilan College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Gilroy, California

About Gavilan College

Thinking about Gavilan College, a college in California where more students graduate in Liberal Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

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. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
20.4%
Net Price
$6,542
Median Earnings (10yr)
$47,169
Enrollment
4,786
Student : Faculty
24:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 55
Value 84
Affordability 46
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Gavilan College admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $6,542 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

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.

$1,888
10% percentile
$2,753
25% percentile
$8,500
75% percentile
$14,000
90% 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 —
Dependent students: 41.9%Independent students: 58.1%Overall Median—
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 students who start here finish within six years, and 71% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

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

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $47,169 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

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.

$36,000$39,000$42,000$46,000$49,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
40.5%1yr55.4%3yr50.9%5yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 51% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 4,786 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 56% are the first in their family to go to college, and 63% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

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
Hispanic: 65.9% (3,156 students)White: 18.9% (905 students)Asian: 5.7% (274 students)Other: 4.1% (197 students)Black: 2.5% (121 students)International: 0.2% (7 students)Total4,786

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: Fringe Gilroy, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
37% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Health graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

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.

2 Programs
7 Programs
5 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 24 students for every instructor here: high, so expect big lectures and to work harder for one-to-one time.

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

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Gavilan College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

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

The questions families ask most about Gavilan College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Gavilan College hard to get into?
Not especially. Gavilan College admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Gavilan College?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does Gavilan College cost?
Budget around $6,542 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gavilan College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $47,169 a year against a net price of $6,542, about 7.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gavilan College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Health/Medical Preparatory, Liberal Arts. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Gavilan College graduates earn?
About $47,169 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
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?
4,786 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Gavilan College?
20% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Gavilan College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Gavilan College located?
Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, California.
What programs does Gavilan College offer?
45 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Health/Medical Preparatory, Liberal Arts. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gavilan College?
24 students per instructor. On the high side, so expect big classes and to seek out contact time yourself. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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