Palomar College vs. Shasta College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Shasta College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 9,073 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Shasta College is in Redding, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shasta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Shasta College 28:1.

Palomar College vs. Shasta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Shasta College? 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 Shasta College than Palomar College ($7,289 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shasta College are 38.6% lower than at Palomar College ($15,844 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shasta College (about $157 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,197.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.3% higher at Palomar College than at Shasta College (about $1,797 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $8,853.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shasta College than at Palomar College (89% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Shasta College students is 51.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,528 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Shasta College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Shasta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Shasta College? 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 $7,600 more per year than Shasta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $1,966 lower median loan debt than Shasta College graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,966).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shasta College graduates ($72 vs. $92).
• More Shasta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.