Valley College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen, 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 Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 15,999 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Valley College is located in Valley Glen, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Valley 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 Valley College 28:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Valley College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, 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 Palomar College than Valley College ($8,372 vs. $13,550).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Valley 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 Valley 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 Valley College (about $78 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Valley College than at Palomar College (82% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Valley College students is 25.6% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,243 vs. $4,972).

Valley College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, 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 Valley College.

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

Valley College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Valley College graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,500).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valley College graduates ($72 vs. $87).
• More Valley 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.