Cabrillo College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Cabrillo College is a public community college in Aptos, California, serving roughly 8,002 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $15,843 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,270. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (50.1%) and White (37.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,270
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,843 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 8,002 34.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 38.04%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 50.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 9.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 45.2%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,691
- Room & Board: $25,281 annual estimate
Cabrillo College: what the data shows
Common questions about Cabrillo College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Cabrillo College?
Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (ZIP 95003).
NCES locale classification: Rural distant.
Is Cabrillo College public or private?
Cabrillo College is a Public institution.
How much does Cabrillo College cost?
Published tuition: $1,270 in-state, $9,862 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,843.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $14,656 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,911 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,780 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,252 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,080.
How big is Cabrillo College?
Total enrollment: 8,002 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 14,691 students.
About 35% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Cabrillo College?
150%-time completion rate: 38.04%.
First-year retention: 73.4%.
What do graduates of Cabrillo College earn?
Median earnings: $34,990 six years after entry; $44,114 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $14,380.
24.41% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Cabrillo College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (732 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (183 completions)
- Psychology, General (99 completions)
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (77 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (76 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (74 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (69 completions)
- Economics, General (60 completions)
- Engineering Technologies (53 completions)
- Graphic Design (53 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Cabrillo College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 38.04%; median earnings $44,114 at 10 years; net price $15,843. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,270
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cabrillo College was $1,270.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,843
2024 Value
In 2024 Cabrillo College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,843.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$63,372 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,843 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,080 4-Year In-State Tuition
$39,448 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$25,281 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,250 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$28,801 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$115,204 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Cabrillo College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
24.41% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
1.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Cabrillo College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Cabrillo College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,358 | $5,698 | $6,841 |
| 2014 | $1,358 | $5,698 | $8,234 |
| 2015 | $1,358 | $5,698 | $7,984 |
| 2016 | $1,456 | $5,796 | $8,362 |
| 2017 | $1,268 | $7,028 | $7,471 |
| 2018 | $1,270 | $7,462 | $7,313 |
| 2019 | $1,270 | $7,462 | $8,487 |
| 2020 | $1,270 | $7,630 | $11,130 |
| 2021 | $1,262 | $8,630 | $12,456 |
| 2022 | $1,262 | $8,630 | $14,797 |
| 2023 | $1,270 | $9,910 | $13,328 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Cabrillo College reported total enrollment of about 8,002 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (50.1%), White (37.8%), and Two or More Races (5.6%). About 24.41% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
34.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Cabrillo College in 2024 is 8,002 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 14,691 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 50.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
9.82% 100% Completion Time
38.04% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 9.82% of students graduating from Cabrillo College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 37% male / 63% female
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 17% male / 83% female
- Psychology, General: 24% male / 76% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Cabrillo College.
Return on Investment
$14,380 Median Student Debt
$44,114 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
32.60% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
596.11% Return on Investment
3.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Cabrillo College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 78 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 732 completions
2. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 183 completions
3. Psychology, General: 99 completions
4. Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping: 77 completions
5. Business Administration and Management, General: 76 completions
6. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 74 completions
7. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 69 completions
8. Economics, General: 60 completions
9. Engineering Technologies: 53 completions
Most popular programs at Cabrillo College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Cabrillo College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Cabrillo College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 45.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,587
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,742
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Cabrillo College is a public institution located in Aptos, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 8,002 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (50.1%), White (37.8%), Two or More Races (5.6%). The 150%-time completion rate is 38.04%. Approximately 24.41% of students receive Pell Grants. About 50.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Aptos, CA 95003
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 38.04% graduation rate at Cabrillo College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 78 distinct degree programs, Cabrillo College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cabrillo College located?
Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA.
How much does Cabrillo College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,270 and average net price is $15,843 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $25,281 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Cabrillo College?
Cabrillo College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 14,691 students, Hispanic or Latino (50.1%), White (37.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Cabrillo College?
About 50.8% of students at Cabrillo College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Cabrillo College earn?
Median earnings are $34,990 six years after entry and $44,114 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Cabrillo College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 38.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Cabrillo College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $14,380.
Is Cabrillo College public or private?
Cabrillo College is a public institution located in Aptos, CA.
Is Cabrillo College an HBCU?
No. Cabrillo College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Cabrillo College a tribal college?
No. Cabrillo College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Cabrillo College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Cabrillo College reports 50.1% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Cabrillo College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Cabrillo College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.