Cerro Coso Community College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, 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 Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Cerro Coso Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community College 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 Palomar College than Cerro Coso Community College ($8,372 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerro Coso Community College are 6.2% lower than at Palomar College ($24,192 vs. $25,804).
• Cerro Coso Community College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $30 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Cerro Coso Community College than at Palomar College (about $604 more per year; $11,254.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Cerro Coso Community College (81% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,464 vs. $4,972).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community College 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community College 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 $7,100 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.