How much does Cabrillo College cost?

At Cabrillo College, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,843 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Cabrillo College?

Cabrillo College enrolls approximately 8,002 undergraduate students.

Where is Cabrillo College located?

Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA.

Cabrillo College: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Cabrillo College

Aptos, CApubliccabrillo.edu

Avg net price

$15,843

Earnings (10 yr)

$44,114

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Cabrillo College is a California community college with an open-door admissions policy, known for its strong transfer pathways to four-year universities and vibrant campus life nestled in the coastal town of Aptos. With a focus on accessibility and student support, it offers a diverse range of academic programs and a tight-knit community feel.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 8,002
In-state tuition: $1,270
Out-of-state tuition: $9,862
Acceptance Rate: 100% (Open Admissions)
Graduation Rate: 26%
Total Annual Cost: $15,843
Most Popular Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences (732 degrees annually)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Earnings (10yr): $54,586
Full-Time Retention Rate: 70%
Average Financial Aid Award: $5,600

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $44,114
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.8×
Median debt at graduation: $14,380
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 39%
Pell (lower-income) share: 98%
First-generation share: 51%
Endowment / student: $6,672

Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.12

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 212
Summer high: 74°F
Winter low: 45°F
Annual rain: 32.4"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively High

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 32
Scholarly works: 304

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.7%
Bottom → top quintile: 12%
From bottom quintile: 14%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

How much does Cabrillo College cost?: At Cabrillo College, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,843 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Cabrillo College?: Cabrillo College enrolls approximately 8,002 undergraduate students.
Where is Cabrillo College located?: Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA.

Admissions

Cabrillo College operates on an open admissions policy, meaning all applicants who meet basic eligibility requirements are accepted. The college does not require standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) or have minimum GPA thresholds for admission. Processing applications typically takes three business days, after which students receive their Cabrillo Student ID# via email. The college participates in California's Common Course Numbering system, streamlining credit transfers to other state institutions.

Acceptance Rate: 100% (open admissions)
Application Process: Online submission with no fees or essays required
Special Programs: Supports adult learners and high school dual enrollment through Running Start

cabrillo.edu cabrillo.edu cabrillo.edu niche.com nces.ed.gov