Palomar College vs. San Jose City College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than San Jose City College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 8,609 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Palomar College vs. San Jose City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or San Jose 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 San Jose City College ($8,372 vs. $19,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose City College are 12.2% lower than at Palomar College ($22,658 vs. $25,804).
• San Jose City College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $12 more per year; $1,366.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at San Jose City College than at Palomar College (about $1,272 more per year; $11,922.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose City College than at Palomar College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Jose City College students is 14.9% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,712 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. San Jose City College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. San Jose City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and San Jose 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 $5,500 more per year than San Jose City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,250 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($54 vs. $72).
• More San Jose 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.