Mt. SAC vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, CA with Palomar College in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mt San Antonio College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mt San Antonio College is located in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Mt San Antonio College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mt San Antonio College 26:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Mt. SAC vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC ($8,372 vs. $8,516).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mt San Antonio College are 0.8% lower than at Palomar College ($25,587 vs. $25,804).
• Mt San Antonio College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $10 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Palomar College than at Mt San Antonio College (about $186 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,464.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Mt San Antonio College (81% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 39% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,911 vs. $4,972).

Mt. SAC vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC.

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

Mt. SAC vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mt. SAC 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 $600 more per year than Mt. SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More Mt. SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.