Ohlone College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohlone College in Fremont, 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 Ohlone College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 9,061 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ohlone College is located in Fremont, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Ohlone College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohlone College 26:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Ohlone College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohlone 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 Ohlone College ($8,372 vs. $18,639).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohlone College are 14.3% lower than at Palomar College ($22,104 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohlone College (about $152 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,202.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.2% higher at Palomar College than at Ohlone College (about $1,936 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $8,714.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Ohlone College (81% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 2.7% larger than aid received by Ohlone College students ($4,972 vs. $4,840).

Ohlone College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

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

Ohlone College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohlone 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 Ohlone College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Ohlone College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.