Palomar College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Palomar College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Riverside 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 Palomar College than Riverside City College ($8,372 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 3.5% lower than at Riverside City College ($25,804 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $74 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at Riverside City College than at Palomar College (about $1,848 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Riverside City College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 30% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,463 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or Riverside 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 Riverside 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; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Palomar College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Riverside 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 $3,700 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($72 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City 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.