Chaffey College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA with Palomar College in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chaffey College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Chaffey College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College than Palomar College ($7,809 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chaffey College are 3% lower than at Palomar College ($25,038 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $170 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Chaffey College than at Palomar College (about $470 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at Palomar College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 16.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,787 vs. $4,972).

Chaffey College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College.

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

Chaffey College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 $4,400 more per year than Chaffey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Chaffey College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 30%)

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.