Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
MiraCosta College San Diego Miramar College SMC Mt. San Jacinto CCD San Diego Mesa College Moorpark College Ventura College Grossmont College Orange Coast College De Anza College Cuesta College Southwestern College| Palomar College | Santa Barbara City College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
| Location | San Marcos, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,655 | 12,675 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | palomar.edu | sbcc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $10,584 | $8,760 | ||
| Room & Board | $22,338 | $17,784 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,476 | $14,180 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,896 | $4,496 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 80% | 64% |
Admission |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 19, 2025 |
Academics |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 37:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $40,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 30% | 39% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $7,000 | $9,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $72 | $98 |
Diversity |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 40% | 41% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 40% | 33% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 94% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Palomar College | SBCC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Palomar College is larger than than SBCC based on total student enrollment (17,655 students vs. 12,675 students)
Palomar College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or SBCC?
- Palomar College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than SBCC for in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.8% higher at Palomar College than Santa Barbara City College ($10,584.00 vs. $8,760.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Palomar College than SBCC ($8,476 vs. $14,180)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 25.6% lower than costs at Palomar College ($17,784 vs. $22,338)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Palomar College than Santa Barbara City College (80% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 31.1% larger than aid received Santa Barbara City College ($5,896 vs. $4,496)
Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or SBCC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SBCC or Palomar College .
Palomar College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Palomar College or SBCC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SBCC and Palomar College.
- Graduates from Santa Barbara City College earn on average $700 more per year than Palomar College graduates after ten years. ($40,400 vs. $39,700)
- Palomar College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SBCC graduates. ($7,000 vs. $9,500)
- Palomar College graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans 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/