College of the Canyons vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, 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 the Canyons based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 18,075 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Canyons vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons than Palomar College ($5,760 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $188 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at College of the Canyons than at Palomar College (about $308 more per year; $10,958.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Palomar College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 8.2% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($4,972 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $3,197 lower median loan debt than College of the Canyons graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,197).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Canyons graduates ($72 vs. $105).
• More College of the Canyons graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.