Fresno City College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Fresno City College in Fresno, CA with Palomar College in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fresno City College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fresno City College 29:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Fresno City College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College ($8,372 vs. $9,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 30.3% lower than at Palomar College ($17,982 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fresno City College (about $20 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Palomar College than at Fresno City College (about $496 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,154.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at Palomar College (92% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 45% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,210 vs. $4,972).

Fresno City College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College.

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

Fresno City College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City 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 $8,000 more per year than Fresno City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $3,155 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($3,845 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($39 vs. $72).
• More Fresno City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.