Match #1
Gavilan College
Gilroy, CA
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate—
- 4,786 students
- Public
- Suburb: Small
- Graduation rate 31%, close to 35%
- Enrollment 4,786 students, close to 3,381
The colleges most similar to Palo Verde College are Gavilan College, College of Marin, and Los Medanos College. Palo Verde College has an average net price of $23,756 a year; 6 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 Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
College of Marin
Kentfield, CA
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate—
- 4,042 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 36%, close to 35%
- Enrollment 4,042 students, close to 3,381
Match #3
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 7,320 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 36%, close to 35%
- Average net price $25,231, close to $23,756
Match #4
West Hills College-Lemoore
Lemoore, CA
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 3,373 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 38%, close to 35%
- Enrollment 3,373 students, close to 3,381
Match #5
Norco College
Norco, CA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 8,779 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 35%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #6
Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate—
- 5,203 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Average net price $25,657, close to $23,756
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #7
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate—
- 8,002 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 35%, close to 35%
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Napa Valley College
Napa, CA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate—
- 3,813 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 35%, close to 35%
- Enrollment 3,813 students, close to 3,381
Match #9
Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey, CA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate—
- 5,624 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 35%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #10
Taft College
Taft, CA
Profile closeness70/100
Admit rate—
- 3,556 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 34%, close to 35%
- Enrollment 3,556 students, close to 3,381
Questions about Palo Verde College alternatives
What colleges are similar to Palo Verde College?
The closest matches to Palo Verde College are Gavilan College, College of Marin, Los Medanos College, West Hills College-Lemoore, and Norco College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Which Palo Verde College alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Palo Verde College ($23,756 a year), including Napa Valley College ($3,152), Taft College ($4,362), and West Hills College-Lemoore ($11,802). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
