Cuyamaca College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than Palomar College ($7,752 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $8 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Palomar College (about $664 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College as at Palomar College (81% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 65.8% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($8,246 vs. $4,972).

Cuyamaca College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College.

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

Cuyamaca College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More Cuyamaca College 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.