Gavilan College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 6,083 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Gavilan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gavilan College 27:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at Gavilan College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,247 more per year; $12,249 vs. $10,002).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at San Diego Mesa College (83% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 48% larger than aid received by Gavilan College students ($8,252 vs. $5,577).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Gavilan College and San Diego Mesa College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 30%).

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