Coastline Community College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, 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 Coastline Community College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 9,008 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Coastline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastline Community College 39:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Coastline Community College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline 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 Coastline Community College ($8,372 vs. $16,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastline Community College are 8.3% lower than at Palomar College ($23,659 vs. $25,804).
• Coastline Community College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $10 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Coastline Community College than at Palomar College (about $962 more per year; $11,612.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Coastline Community College (81% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coastline Community College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,455 vs. $4,972).

Coastline Community College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline 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 Coastline Community College.

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

Coastline Community College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline 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 Coastline Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,250 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($54 vs. $72).
• More Coastline Community College 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.