City College of San Francisco vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, 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 City College of San Francisco based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 19,267 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco ($8,372 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 4.1% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($25,804 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 25.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $342 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.6% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Palomar College (about $4,006 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at City College of San Francisco (81% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 47.2% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,318 vs. $4,972).

City College of San Francisco vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($72 vs. $85).
• More City College of San Francisco graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.