Palomar College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 224 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova is in Rancho Cordova, California (Rural Fringe setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova 20:1.

Palomar College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova? 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova ($8,372 vs. $29,774).
• In-state tuition differs between Palomar College and San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova ($1,354.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between Palomar College and San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova ($10,650.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova (81% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova students is 20.2% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,977 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova? 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova 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; San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova - Open admission.

Palomar College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova? 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).

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.