Irvine Valley College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Irvine Valley College in Irvine, 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 Irvine Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 13,018 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than Palomar College ($5,821 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Irvine Valley College are 0.1% lower than at Palomar College ($25,769 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $198 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Palomar College (about $1,210 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Irvine Valley College (81% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 45.9% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,254 vs. $4,972).

Irvine Valley College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($6,000 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($62 vs. $72).
• More Irvine Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.