MiraCosta College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare MiraCosta College in Oceanside, 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 MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Palomar College 25:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College ($8,372 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 24.8% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,804 vs. $34,328).
• Palomar College is 16.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $196 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at Palomar College than at MiraCosta College (about $900 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College as at Palomar College (81% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,013 vs. $4,972).

MiraCosta College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

MiraCosta College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.