Gavilan College vs. SMC

Gavilan College and Santa Monica College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Gavilan College
Santa Monica College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $5,685 vs $8,753 at Gavilan College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Gavilan College $33,600 vs SMC $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Gavilan College Santa Monica College
Acceptance rate
Gavilan College-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Gavilan College-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $3,068 less
Gavilan College$8,753
SMC$5,685
In-state tuition
SMC $352 less
Gavilan College$1,508
SMC$1,156
Out-of-state tuition
SMC $1,541 less
Gavilan College$12,249
SMC$10,708
Graduation rate
Gavilan College-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
SMC +$5,400
Gavilan College$33,600
SMC$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Gavilan College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Gavilan College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • Gavilan College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • Gavilan College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Gavilan College $1,508
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Gavilan College $12,249
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & board
  • Gavilan College $22,086
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average net price
  • Gavilan College $8,753
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average grant aid
  • Gavilan College $5,577
  • SMC $5,540
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Gavilan College 83%
  • SMC 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Gavilan College -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Gavilan College $33,600
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Gavilan College 30%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Gavilan College $7,500
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Gavilan College $77
  • SMC $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Gavilan College 27:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • Gavilan College
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Location
  • Gavilan College Gilroy, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Gavilan College Rural Fringe
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Gavilan College 6,083
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Gavilan College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Gavilan College
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Gavilan College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 6,083 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gavilan College are 14.8% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,086 vs. $25,908).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Gavilan College than at Santa Monica College (about $1,541 more per year; $12,249 vs. $10,708).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gavilan College than at Santa Monica College (83% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gavilan College students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($5,577 vs. $5,540).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Gavilan College and SMC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Gavilan College graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gavilan College graduates ($67 vs. $77).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gavilan College students, three years after graduation (45% 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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