Mt. San Jacinto CCD vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mt San Jacinto Community College District in San Jacinto, 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 Mt. San Jacinto CCD based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 17,627 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Mt. San Jacinto CCD vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mt. San Jacinto CCD 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. San Jacinto CCD ($8,372 vs. $8,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mt San Jacinto Community College District are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Mt San Jacinto Community College District is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $94 more per year; $1,448.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.5% higher at Mt. San Jacinto CCD than at Palomar College (about $2,078 more per year; $12,728.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mt San Jacinto Community College District than at Palomar College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Jacinto Community College District students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,128 vs. $4,972).

Mt. San Jacinto CCD vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mt. San Jacinto CCD 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. San Jacinto CCD.

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

Mt. San Jacinto CCD vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mt. San Jacinto CCD 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 $6,800 more per year than Mt. San Jacinto CCD graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mt. San Jacinto CCD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.