Palomar College vs. College of the Redwoods

Comparable Facts

Compare Palomar College in San Marcos, CA with College of the Redwoods in Eureka, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palomar College is larger than College of the Redwoods based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 4,706 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); College of the Redwoods is in Eureka, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Redwoods is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; College of the Redwoods 17:1.

Palomar College vs. College of the Redwoods Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or College of the Redwoods? 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 College of the Redwoods ($8,372 vs. $9,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Redwoods are 53% lower than at Palomar College ($12,117 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 13% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Redwoods (about $156 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,198.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.3% higher at Palomar College than at College of the Redwoods (about $1,796 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $8,854.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Redwoods than at Palomar College (90% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Redwoods students is 26.5% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,288 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. College of the Redwoods Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or College of the Redwoods? 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 College of the Redwoods and Palomar College.

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

Palomar College vs. College of the Redwoods Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and College of the Redwoods? 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 $7,600 more per year than College of the Redwoods graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $261 lower median loan debt than College of the Redwoods graduates ($7,000 vs. $7,261).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Redwoods graduates ($72 vs. $75).
• More College of the Redwoods graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.