MJC vs. Palomar College

Deciding between Modesto Junior College and Palomar College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Modesto Junior College
Palomar College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MJC Modesto, CA
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • Setting
  • MJC Midsize City
  • Palomar College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MJC 18,258
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • Type
  • MJC Public 2 Year
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MJC
  • Palomar College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Status
  • MJC Non-profit
  • Palomar College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MJC
  • Palomar College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MJC $1,282
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MJC $9,264
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • Room & Board
  • MJC $22,086
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • Average Net Price
  • MJC $5,605
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MJC $5,984
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MJC 73%
  • Palomar College 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Admitted
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MJC Open
  • Palomar College Open
  • Enrolled
  • MJC Open
  • Palomar College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • MJC
  • Palomar College
  • Typical ACT score
  • MJC
  • Palomar College
  • Average High School GPA
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MJC Unavailable
  • Palomar College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • MJC
  • Palomar College
  • ACT Range
  • MJC
  • Palomar College
  • SAT Range
  • MJC
  • Palomar College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MJC Open admission
  • Palomar College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • MJC Jun 30, 2027
  • Palomar College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MJC 32:1
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MJC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Agriculture (8%)
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MJC $34,000
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MJC -
  • Palomar College 30%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MJC N/A
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MJC N/A
  • Palomar College $72

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MJC 40%
  • Palomar College 54%
  • % Women
  • MJC 60%
  • Palomar College 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MJC High
  • Palomar College High
  • HBCU
  • MJC No
  • Palomar College No
  • % White
  • MJC 38%
  • Palomar College 40%
  • % Asian
  • MJC 6%
  • Palomar College 6%
  • % Black
  • MJC 4%
  • Palomar College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • MJC 47%
  • Palomar College 40%
  • % Native American
  • MJC 1%
  • Palomar College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MJC 1%
  • Palomar College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MJC 1%
  • Palomar College 5%
  • % International
  • MJC 0%
  • Palomar College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MJC 2%
  • Palomar College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MJC 98%
  • Palomar College 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MJC 0%
  • Palomar College 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MJC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MJC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Meal Plan
  • MJC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MJC No
  • Palomar College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MJC No
  • Palomar College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Modesto Junior College in Modesto, 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 MJC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 18,258 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Modesto Junior College is located in Modesto, CA (Midsize City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
  • Modesto Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Modesto Junior College 32:1; Palomar College 25:1.

MJC vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MJC 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 Modesto Junior College than Palomar College ($5,605 vs. $8,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Modesto Junior College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
  • Palomar College is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MJC (about $72 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,282.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at Palomar College than at Modesto Junior College (about $1,386 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Modesto Junior College (81% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Modesto Junior College students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,984 vs. $4,972).

MJC vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MJC 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 MJC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MJC - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MJC Jun 30, 2027.

MJC vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MJC 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 $5,700 more per year than MJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $34,000), 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.