GCC vs. Palomar College

Deciding between Glendale Community College and Palomar College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Glendale Community College
Palomar College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GCC Glendale, CA
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • Setting
  • GCC Midsize City
  • Palomar College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GCC 12,075
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • Type
  • GCC Public 2 Year
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GCC
  • Palomar College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GCC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Status
  • GCC Non-profit
  • Palomar College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GCC
  • Palomar College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GCC $1,191
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GCC $10,935
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • Room & Board
  • GCC $22,086
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • Average Net Price
  • GCC $10,060
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GCC $6,418
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GCC 85%
  • Palomar College 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GCC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Admitted
  • GCC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GCC Open
  • Palomar College Open
  • Enrolled
  • GCC Open
  • Palomar College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • GCC
  • Palomar College
  • Typical ACT score
  • GCC
  • Palomar College
  • Average High School GPA
  • GCC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GCC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • GCC Unavailable
  • Palomar College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GCC
  • Palomar College
  • ACT Range
  • GCC
  • Palomar College
  • SAT Range
  • GCC
  • Palomar College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GCC Open admission
  • Palomar College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • GCC
  • Palomar College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GCC 28:1
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GCC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GCC $38,200
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GCC 56%
  • Palomar College 30%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GCC N/A
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GCC N/A
  • Palomar College $72

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GCC 47%
  • Palomar College 54%
  • % Women
  • GCC 53%
  • Palomar College 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GCC High
  • Palomar College High
  • HBCU
  • GCC No
  • Palomar College No
  • % White
  • GCC 45%
  • Palomar College 40%
  • % Asian
  • GCC 10%
  • Palomar College 6%
  • % Black
  • GCC 3%
  • Palomar College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • GCC 32%
  • Palomar College 40%
  • % Native American
  • GCC 0%
  • Palomar College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GCC 0%
  • Palomar College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GCC 3%
  • Palomar College 5%
  • % International
  • GCC 5%
  • Palomar College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GCC 2%
  • Palomar College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GCC 93%
  • Palomar College 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GCC 0%
  • Palomar College 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GCC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GCC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Meal Plan
  • GCC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GCC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GCC Yes
  • Palomar College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Glendale Community College in Glendale, 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 GCC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 12,075 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, CA (Midsize City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
  • Glendale Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Glendale Community College 28:1; Palomar College 25:1.

GCC vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCC 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 GCC ($8,372 vs. $10,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Glendale Community College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
  • Palomar College is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCC (about $163 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,191.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at GCC than at Palomar College (about $285 more per year; $10,935.00 vs. $10,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Glendale Community College than at Palomar College (85% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Glendale Community College students is 29.1% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,418 vs. $4,972).

GCC vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCC 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 GCC.

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

GCC vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCC 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 $1,500 more per year than GCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More GCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.