Match #1
Palo Verde College
Blythe, CA
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate—
- 3,381 students
- Public
- Rural: Distant
- Graduation rate 35%, close to 31%
- Enrollment 3,381 students, close to 4,786
The colleges most similar to Gavilan College are Palo Verde College, Los Medanos College, and Cabrillo College. Gavilan College has an average net price of $22,074 a year; 3 of its 10 alternatives cost less, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Gavilan College. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Gavilan College
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate—
- 7,320 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 36%, close to 31%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #3
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate—
- 8,002 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 35%, close to 31%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #4
Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, CA
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 5,687 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 34%, close to 31%
- Enrollment 5,687 students, close to 4,786
Match #5
Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 5,203 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 5,203 students, close to 4,786
- Same control type (public)
Match #6
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, CA
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 10,207 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 29%, close to 31%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #7
Norco College
Norco, CA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 8,779 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 31%
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 7,299 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Average net price $22,259, close to $22,074
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #9
College of Marin
Kentfield, CA
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate—
- 4,042 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 36%, close to 31%
- Enrollment 4,042 students, close to 4,786
Match #10
Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey, CA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate—
- 5,624 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 31%
- Enrollment 5,624 students, close to 4,786
Questions about Gavilan College alternatives
What colleges are similar to Gavilan College?
The closest matches to Gavilan College are Palo Verde College, Los Medanos College, Cabrillo College, Crafton Hills College, and Contra Costa College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Which Gavilan College alternatives cost less?
3 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Gavilan College ($22,074 a year), including Crafton Hills College ($11,754), Cabrillo College ($17,735), and College of the Desert ($17,769). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
