College of the Desert vs. Gavilan College

College of the Desert and Gavilan College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

College of the Desert
Gavilan College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Gavilan College. Average net price is $8,753 vs $18,169 at College of the Desert.
  • Earnings 10 years out: College of the Desert $35,100 vs Gavilan College $33,600 (median).
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Key differences

College of the Desert Gavilan College
Acceptance rate
College of the Desert-
Gavilan College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
College of the Desert-
Gavilan College-
Average net price
Gavilan College $9,416 less
College of the Desert$18,169
Gavilan College$8,753
In-state tuition
College of the Desert $182 less
College of the Desert$1,326
Gavilan College$1,508
Out-of-state tuition
College of the Desert $2,075 less
College of the Desert$10,174
Gavilan College$12,249
Graduation rate
College of the Desert-
Gavilan College-
Median earnings (10 years)
College of the Desert +$1,500
College of the Desert$35,100
Gavilan College$33,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • College of the Desert -
  • Gavilan College -
  • Admitted
  • College of the Desert -
  • Gavilan College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Gavilan College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Gavilan College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College
  • Average high school GPA
  • College of the Desert -
  • Gavilan College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • College of the Desert -
  • Gavilan College -
  • Admissions standards
  • College of the Desert Unavailable
  • Gavilan College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College
  • SAT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College
  • ACT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College
  • Submit test scores
  • College of the Desert Open admission
  • Gavilan College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • College of the Desert $1,326
  • Gavilan College $1,508
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • College of the Desert $10,174
  • Gavilan College $12,249
  • Room & board
  • College of the Desert $25,151
  • Gavilan College $22,086
  • Average net price
  • College of the Desert $18,169
  • Gavilan College $8,753
  • Average grant aid
  • College of the Desert $6,822
  • Gavilan College $5,577
  • % receiving grant aid
  • College of the Desert 88%
  • Gavilan College 83%
  • Graduation rate
  • College of the Desert -
  • Gavilan College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • College of the Desert $35,100
  • Gavilan College $33,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • College of the Desert 35%
  • Gavilan College 30%
  • Median student loan debt
  • College of the Desert $5,338
  • Gavilan College $7,500
  • Median loan payment
  • College of the Desert $55
  • Gavilan College $77
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • College of the Desert 26:1
  • Gavilan College 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • College of the Desert
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (10%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Gavilan College
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Location
  • College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
  • Gavilan College Gilroy, CA
  • Setting
  • College of the Desert Small City
  • Gavilan College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • College of the Desert 12,861
  • Gavilan College 6,083
  • Type
  • College of the Desert Public 2 Year
  • Gavilan College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • College of the Desert
  • Gavilan College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

College of the Desert is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 6,083 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Gavilan College is in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Gavilan College 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at Gavilan College than at College of the Desert (about $2,075 more per year; $12,249 vs. $10,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Gavilan College (88% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 22.3% larger than aid received by Gavilan College students ($6,822 vs. $5,577).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both College of the Desert and Gavilan College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,162 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($55 vs. $77).
  • More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation (35% vs. 30%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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