Foothill College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Foothill College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($8,372 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 19.4% lower than at Palomar College ($20,793 vs. $25,804).
• Foothill College is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $211 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.2% higher at Foothill College than at Palomar College (about $1,940 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Foothill College (81% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 17.7% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($4,972 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $1,972 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($72 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.