Pierce College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 16,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College 30:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Pierce College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($8,372 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,398 vs. $4,972).

Pierce College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Pierce College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More Pierce 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.