Palomar College vs. Delta

Comparable Facts

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

San Joaquin Delta College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (20,969 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); San Joaquin Delta College is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Delta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; San Joaquin Delta College 45:1.

Palomar College vs. Delta Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Delta? 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 San Joaquin Delta College than Palomar College ($3,293 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Delta College are 16.3% lower than at Palomar College ($21,600 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Delta (about $174 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Palomar College than at San Joaquin Delta College (about $878 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at San Joaquin Delta College (81% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,311 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Delta Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Delta Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Delta? 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 $4,800 more per year than Delta graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Joaquin Delta College and Palomar College graduates have the same median loan debt ($7,000 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, San Joaquin Delta College and Palomar College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($72 vs. $72).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delta students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 24%)

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.