Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, CA with Palomar College in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palomar College is larger than Antelope Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 13,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Antelope Valley Community College District is located in Lancaster, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Antelope Valley Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Antelope Valley Community College District 23:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Antelope Valley Community College District or Palomar College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Antelope Valley Community College District than Palomar College ($6,110 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Antelope Valley Community College District are 45.9% lower than at Palomar College ($13,960 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Antelope Valley Community College District (about $230 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,124.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Palomar College than at Antelope Valley Community College District (about $1,102 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,548.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Antelope Valley Community College District than at Palomar College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Antelope Valley Community College District students is 30.5% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,490 vs. $4,972).

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Antelope Valley Community College District or Palomar College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Palomar College and Antelope Valley Community College District.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Antelope Valley Community College District - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Antelope Valley Community College District and Palomar College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Palomar College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($7,000 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($72 vs. $113).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Antelope Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 19%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.