Palomar College vs. College of the Sequoias

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than College of the Sequoias based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 14,494 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); College of the Sequoias is in Visalia, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Sequoias is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; College of the Sequoias 29:1.

Palomar College vs. College of the Sequoias Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or College of the Sequoias? 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 College of the Sequoias than Palomar College ($2,152 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Sequoias are 12.8% lower than at Palomar College ($22,500 vs. $25,804).
• College of the Sequoias is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $40 more per year; $1,394.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at Palomar College than at College of the Sequoias (about $1,612 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,038.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College as at College of the Sequoias (81% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Sequoias students is 41.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,030 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. College of the Sequoias Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or College of the Sequoias? 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 Sequoias 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 Sequoias - Open admission.

Palomar College vs. College of the Sequoias Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and College of the Sequoias? 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 $8,400 more per year than College of the Sequoias graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $31,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Sequoias graduates have a $2,973 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($4,027 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Sequoias graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($41 vs. $72).
• More College of the Sequoias graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.