Palomar College vs. FLC

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 11,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Folsom Lake College is in Folsom, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Folsom Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Folsom Lake College 29:1.

Palomar College vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or FLC? 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 FLC ($8,372 vs. $8,982).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Folsom Lake College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than FLC (about $66 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at FLC than at Palomar College (about $1,966 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Folsom Lake College than at Palomar College (84% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 39.3% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($4,972 vs. $3,570).

Palomar College vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or FLC? 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 FLC 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; FLC - Open admission.

Palomar College vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and FLC? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than FLC graduates ($7,000 vs. $7,750).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FLC graduates ($72 vs. $80).
• More FLC 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.