Palomar College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Palomar College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($8,372 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $114 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at Palomar College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $218 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Santa Barbara City College (81% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 18.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,889 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Palomar College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($72 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.