Palomar College vs. Smith Chason College

Comparable Facts

Compare Palomar College in San Marcos, CA with Smith Chason College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palomar College is larger than Smith Chason College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 2,447 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting); Smith Chason College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Smith Chason College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palomar College 25:1; Smith Chason College 21:1.

Palomar College vs. Smith Chason College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Smith Chason 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 Smith Chason College ($8,372 vs. $32,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Smith Chason College are 14.4% lower than at Palomar College ($22,086 vs. $25,804).
• Smith Chason College is 1,306.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $17,686 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 78.8% higher at Smith Chason College than at Palomar College (about $8,390 more per year; $19,040.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Smith Chason College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Smith Chason College students is 35.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,731 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Smith Chason College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. Smith Chason College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Smith Chason 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 Smith Chason College earn a median of about $16,500 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $13,000 lower median loan debt than Smith Chason College graduates ($7,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $134 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith Chason College graduates ($72 vs. $206).
• More Smith Chason College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (48% 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.