Fullerton College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Fullerton College in Fullerton, 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 Fullerton College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 19,521 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fullerton College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than Palomar College ($8,306 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton 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 Fullerton College (about $204 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than at Palomar College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fullerton College students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,301 vs. $4,972).

Fullerton College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $2,400 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Fullerton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.