Cabrillo College
- The mission of Cabrillo College is to enhance the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of our diverse community by assisting all students in their quest for lifelong learning and success in an ever-changing world.
School Highlights
- Cabrillo College serves 13,594 students (34% of students are full-time).
- The college's student:teacher ratio of 42:1 is lower than the state community college average of 44:1.
- Minority enrollment is 47% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 68%.
- Cabrillo College is the only community colleges within Santa Cruz County, CA.
- The nearest community college to Cabrillo College is Carrington College-San Jose (18.9 miles away).
Top Placements
Cabrillo College places among the top 20% of community colleges in California for:
- Category Attribute
- Affordability Least expensive tuition
- Student Earnings Highest graduate earnings (10 years post graduation)
School Overview
- The teacher population of 322 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
| Cabrillo College | (CA) Community College Avg. | |
| Institution Level | At least 2 but less than 4 years | At least 2 but less than 4 years |
| Institution Control | Public | Public |
| Total Faculty | 322 staff | 97 staff |
| Total Enrollment | 13,594 students | 7,516 students |
 | ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 42:1 | 44:1 |
| # Full-Time Students | 4,560 students | 1,613 students |
| # Part-Time Students | 9,034 students | 5,903 students |
 |  | |
| % American Indian/Alaskan | 1% | - |
| % Asian | 2% | 13% |
| % Hispanic | 34% | 37% |
| % Black | 1% | 7% |
| % White | 53% | 32% |
| % Two or more races | 5% | 3% |
| % Non Resident races | 1% | 3% |
| % Unknown races | 3% | 5% |
 |  | |
| Diversity Score | 0.60 | 0.73 |
 | ||
| College Completion Rate | 27% | 29% |
| Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) | $40,500 | $34,600 |
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS
School Notes
- Cabrillo College is one of 109 public California community colleges. Situated on the Monterey Bay in the county of Santa Cruz, California, Cabrillo College is one of the most highly regarded community colleges in the state for its success in the area of transfer and career education and currently serves over 13,000 students. Classes are conveniently offered at several locations including the main campus in Aptos at 6500 Soquel Drive; the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, located at 318 Union Street in downtown Watsonville; and at several locations in downtown Santa Cruz. Cabrillo's career education is closely connected to the nearby Silicon Valley business environment as well as that of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Cabrillo College offers a variety of programs that lead to Skills Certificates, Certificates of Proficiency, and A.S. Degrees. In addition, Cabrillo College offers basic skills courses and courses for business, professional and personal development. A variety of not-for-credit classes are available on a fee basis through the Community Education Department. Cabrillo focuses on student-centered learning and has a tradition of collegial governance. Currently, facility planning and major construction is under way on campus for a new Student Services Complex, Arts Education facilities and a Health Care Education Center. Cabrillo College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Nearby Schools
- The nearest community college to Cabrillo College is Carrington College-San Jose (18.9 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- Carrington College-San JosePrivate, for profit805 students | 18.90 Mi6201 San Ignacio Ave.
San Jose, CA 95119
(408)960-0162 18.90805 - Gavilan CollegePublic5,531 students | 19.60 Mi5055 Santa Teresa Blvd
Gilroy, CA 95020
(408)848-4800 19.605,531 - West Valley CollegePublic9,062 students | 19.90 Mi14000 Fruitvale Ave
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408)867-2200 19.909,062 - San Jose City CollegePublic9,072 students | 22.70 Mi2100 Moorpark Ave
San Jose, CA 95128
(408)298-2181 22.709,072 - Evergreen Valley CollegePublic9,133 students | 23.30 Mi3095 Yerba Buena Rd
San Jose, CA 95135
(408)274-7900 23.309,133
Recent Articles
We look at why millions of Americans are choosing community college over a traditional four-year school today.
Many students enroll in community college with the intent of transferring to a four-year school. Of those who do, many succeed, and yet traditional colleges and universities continue to overlook them. Read on to learn more about why more community college students don’t transfer schools and to receive some tips for making the transfer yourself.
Community college is the only option for many students who either can’t afford a traditional four-year university or who need a more flexible school environment. Just because community college is different, however, doesn’t mean that its students matter any less. The Aspen Prize exists to encourage community colleges to do more for their students and to continually strive for improvement.
