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MiraCosta College San Diego Miramar College Allan Hancock College Mt. San Jacinto CCD San Diego Mesa College Grossmont College SBCC Southwestern College Saddleback College San Diego City College Community Christian College| Cuesta College | Palomar College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | San Marcos, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,908 | 17,655 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuesta.edu | palomar.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,288 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,296 | $10,584 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $22,338 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,507 | $8,476 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,559 | $5,896 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 80% |
Admission |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 13, 2025 |
Academics |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 27:1 | 21:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 30% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $11,250 | $7,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $116 | $72 |
Diversity |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 40% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 94% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Cuesta College | Palomar College | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Palomar College is larger than than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (17,655 students vs. 9,908 students)
Cuesta College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Palomar College?
- Cuesta College and Palomar College cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at Palomar College than Cuesta College ($10,584.00 vs. $9,296.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Palomar College than Cuesta College ($8,476 vs. $14,507)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 25.6% lower than costs at Palomar College ($17,784 vs. $22,338)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cuesta College than Palomar College (86% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 29.3% larger than aid received Cuesta College ($5,896 vs. $4,559)
Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or Palomar College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Palomar College or Cuesta College .
Cuesta College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cuesta College or Palomar College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Palomar College and Cuesta College.
- Graduates from Cuesta College earn on average $1,100 more per year than Palomar College graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $39,700)
- Palomar College students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Cuesta College graduates. ($7,000 vs. $11,250)
- Palomar College graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Cuesta College graduates. ($72 vs. $116)
- More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 30%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/