College of Alameda vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Palomar College 25:1.

College of Alameda vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($8,372 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 11.6% lower than at Palomar College ($22,820 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Alameda (about $96 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Palomar College than at College of Alameda (about $752 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at Palomar College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Alameda students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,385 vs. $4,972).

College of Alameda vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda.

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

College of Alameda vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 $3,000 more per year than College of Alameda graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of Alameda graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.