Palomar College vs. Victor Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Victor Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 8,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Victor Valley College is in Victorville, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Victor Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Victor Valley College 23:1.

Palomar College vs. Victor Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Victor Valley 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 Victor Valley College than Palomar College ($1,947 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Victor Valley College are 35.7% lower than at Palomar College ($16,580 vs. $25,804).
• Victor Valley College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $71 more per year; $1,425.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Palomar College than at Victor Valley College (about $525 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,125.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Victor Valley College than at Palomar College (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Victor Valley College students is 56.6% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($7,788 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Victor Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Victor Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Victor Valley 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 $7,200 more per year than Victor Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Victor Valley College graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Victor Valley College graduates ($72 vs. $93).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Victor Valley College students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 18%)

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.