Palomar College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Palomar College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Southwestern 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 Palomar College than Southwestern College ($8,372 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 7.4% lower than at Palomar College ($23,897 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $10 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Palomar College than at Southwestern College (about $10 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Palomar College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 37.2% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,821 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Southwestern 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 $5,600 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More Southwestern 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.