College of Marin vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Marin in Kentfield, 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 Marin based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Marin is located in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Marin 17:1; Palomar College 25:1.

College of Marin vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin 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 Marin ($8,372 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Marin are 4.5% lower than at Palomar College ($24,645 vs. $25,804).
• College of Marin is 15.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $204 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Palomar College than at College of Marin (about $1,316 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at College of Marin (81% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 23% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,117 vs. $4,972).

College of Marin vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

College of Marin vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin 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 College of Marin earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $7,375 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($7,000 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($72 vs. $148).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 29%)

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.