Merced College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, 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 Merced College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Merced College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced 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 Merced College than Palomar College ($6,854 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 24.7% lower than at Palomar College ($19,432 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $154 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25% higher at Palomar College than at Merced College (about $2,130 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Palomar College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 50.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,480 vs. $4,972).

Merced College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

Merced College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced 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 $9,400 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.