Palomar College vs. Skyline College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Skyline College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 9,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Skyline College is in San Bruno, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skyline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Skyline College 29:1.

Palomar College vs. Skyline College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Skyline 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 Skyline College than Palomar College ($6,639 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 17.5% lower than at Skyline College ($25,804 vs. $31,288).
• Palomar College is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Skyline College (about $82 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,272.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Palomar College than at Skyline College (about $694 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,956.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Skyline College (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Skyline College students ($4,972 vs. $4,341).

Palomar College vs. Skyline College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Skyline College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Skyline 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 Skyline College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Skyline College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.