Los Angeles City College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles City College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 14,611 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles City College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles City College 30:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Los Angeles City College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles City College ($8,372 vs. $11,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles City College are 1.5% lower than at Palomar College ($25,407 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles City College (about $116 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Palomar College than at Los Angeles City College (about $78 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Los Angeles City College (81% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 40.7% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,994 vs. $4,972).

Los Angeles City College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles City College.

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

Los Angeles City College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles 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 $6,700 more per year than Los Angeles City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $2,969 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles City College graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,969).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Los Angeles City College graduates ($72 vs. $103).
• More Los Angeles City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.