Palomar College vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Palomar College vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College ($8,372 vs. $8,669).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Las Positas College are 10.6% lower than at Palomar College ($23,076 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $186 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at Palomar College than at Las Positas College (about $842 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Las Positas College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 29.5% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($4,972 vs. $3,839).

Palomar College vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Palomar College vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Las Positas 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.