Palomar College vs. SMC

Deciding between Palomar College and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Palomar College
Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • Palomar College Small City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Palomar College
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Palomar College -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • Palomar College Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Palomar College
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Palomar College 81%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Palomar College -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • Palomar College -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Palomar College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Palomar College Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Palomar College
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Palomar College
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Palomar College -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Palomar College -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Palomar College Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Palomar College
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • Palomar College
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • Palomar College
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Palomar College Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Palomar College
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Palomar College -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Palomar College 30%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Palomar College $72
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Palomar College 54%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • Palomar College 46%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Palomar College High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Palomar College No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • Palomar College 40%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • Palomar College 6%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • Palomar College 3%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Palomar College 40%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • Palomar College 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Palomar College 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Palomar College 5%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • Palomar College 1%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Palomar College 3%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Palomar College 97%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Palomar College 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Palomar College No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Palomar College No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Palomar College No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Palomar College No
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Palomar College Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

Palomar College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or SMC? 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 Santa Monica College than Palomar College ($5,685 vs. $8,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 0.4% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,804 vs. $25,908).
  • Palomar College is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $198 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at SMC than at Palomar College (about $58 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,540 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Palomar College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and SMC? 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 $700 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,000).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($67 vs. $72).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.