Palomar College vs. SCC

Deciding between Palomar College and Santiago Canyon 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
Santiago Canyon College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • SCC Orange, CA
  • Setting
  • Palomar College Small City
  • SCC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • SCC 11,897
  • Type
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • SCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Palomar College
  • SCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Palomar College -
  • SCC -
  • Status
  • Palomar College Non-profit
  • SCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Palomar College
  • SCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • SCC $1,164
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • SCC $9,612
  • Room & Board
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • SCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • SCC $6,573
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • SCC $6,580
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Palomar College 81%
  • SCC 74%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • SCC 34:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • SCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (63%)
    • Engineering Technology (10%)
    • Construction Trades (9%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Palomar College -
  • SCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • SCC N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Palomar College 30%
  • SCC 41%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • SCC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Palomar College $72
  • SCC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Palomar College 54%
  • SCC 64%
  • % Women
  • Palomar College 46%
  • SCC 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Palomar College High
  • SCC High
  • HBCU
  • Palomar College No
  • SCC No
  • % White
  • Palomar College 40%
  • SCC 36%
  • % Asian
  • Palomar College 6%
  • SCC 7%
  • % Black
  • Palomar College 3%
  • SCC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Palomar College 40%
  • SCC 47%
  • % Native American
  • Palomar College 1%
  • SCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Palomar College 0%
  • SCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Palomar College 5%
  • SCC 4%
  • % International
  • Palomar College 1%
  • SCC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Palomar College 3%
  • SCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Palomar College 97%
  • SCC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Palomar College 0%
  • SCC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 11,897 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

Palomar College vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or SCC? 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 Santiago Canyon College than Palomar College ($6,573 vs. $8,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santiago Canyon College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
  • Palomar College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCC (about $190 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,164.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Palomar College than at Santiago Canyon College (about $1,038 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,612.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Santiago Canyon College (81% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santiago Canyon College students is 32.3% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,580 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and SCC? 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).

  • More SCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.