Palomar College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Palomar College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than Palomar College ($6,888 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 24.7% lower than at Palomar College ($19,431 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $174 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Palomar College than at Pasadena City College (about $830 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Pasadena City College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 35.9% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,759 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Pasadena City 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($56 vs. $72).
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.