Palomar College vs. SRJC

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than SRJC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 17,854 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Santa Rosa Junior College is in Santa Rosa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Santa Rosa Junior College 20:1.

Palomar College vs. SRJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or SRJC? 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 SRJC ($8,372 vs. $8,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Rosa Junior College are 16% lower than at Palomar College ($21,676 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SRJC (about $36 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,318.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at SRJC than at Palomar College (about $658 more per year; $11,308.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Rosa Junior College than at Palomar College (82% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Rosa Junior College students is 10.3% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,485 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. SRJC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or SRJC? 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 SRJC 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; SRJC - Open admission.

Palomar College vs. SRJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and SRJC? 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 Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than SRJC graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SRJC graduates ($72 vs. $82).
• More SRJC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.