LMC vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, 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 LMC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Medanos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Medanos College 23:1; Palomar College 25:1.

LMC vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC 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 LMC ($8,372 vs. $9,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Medanos College are 9.9% lower than at Palomar College ($23,238 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $42 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Palomar College than at Los Medanos College (about $330 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at Palomar College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Medanos College students is 2.8% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,109 vs. $4,972).

LMC vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC 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 LMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LMC - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027.

LMC vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC 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 Medanos College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,700 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More LMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.