Compton College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Compton College in Compton, 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 Compton College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 5,225 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Compton College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Compton 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 Palomar College than Compton College ($8,372 vs. $14,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Compton College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 18.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Compton College (about $212 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,142.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.7% higher at Palomar College than at Compton College (about $1,828 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $8,822.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Compton College (81% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Compton College students is 27% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,316 vs. $4,972).

Compton College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

Compton College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Compton 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 $3,300 more per year than Compton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Compton College students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 25%)

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.