Palomar College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Palomar College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than Palomar College ($8,122 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 0.1% lower than at Palomar College ($25,769 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $198 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Saddleback College than at Palomar College (about $1,210 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Saddleback College (81% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 8% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($4,972 vs. $4,603).

Palomar College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $880 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($6,120 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($63 vs. $72).
• More Saddleback College 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.