Cypress College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cypress College in Cypress, 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 Cypress College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 15,924 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cypress College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cypress 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 Cypress College than Palomar College ($7,253 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cypress College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 17.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cypress College (about $204 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Cypress College than at Palomar College (about $1,729 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cypress College than at Palomar College (89% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cypress College students is 27.6% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,345 vs. $4,972).

Cypress College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cypress College - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cypress College Aug 25, 2027.

Cypress College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cypress 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 $400 more per year than Cypress College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Cypress College graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cypress College graduates ($72 vs. $98).
• More Cypress College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.