Citrus College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Citrus College in Glendora, 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 Citrus College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 10,429 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Citrus College is located in Glendora, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Citrus College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Citrus College 24:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Citrus College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Citrus 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 Citrus College than Palomar College ($6,607 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Citrus College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 12.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Citrus College (about $150 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,204.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Palomar College than at Citrus College (about $14 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,636.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Citrus College (81% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Citrus College students is 43.8% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,152 vs. $4,972).

Citrus College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Citrus College or Palomar College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Palomar College and Citrus College.

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

Citrus College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Citrus College and Palomar College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Palomar College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Citrus College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Citrus College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Citrus College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($56 vs. $72).
• More Citrus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.