Palomar College vs. Coalinga College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Coalinga College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 4,175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Palomar College vs. Coalinga College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or Coalinga 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 Coalinga College ($8,372 vs. $11,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coalinga College are 68.5% lower than at Palomar College ($8,122 vs. $25,804).
• Coalinga College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $30 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Coalinga College than at Palomar College (about $304 more per year; $10,954.00 vs. $10,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coalinga College than at Palomar College (95% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coalinga College students is 64% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($8,154 vs. $4,972).

Palomar College vs. Coalinga College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or Coalinga 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 Coalinga 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; Coalinga College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Coalinga College Jul 15, 2027.

Palomar College vs. Coalinga College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and Coalinga 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 $7,900 more per year than Coalinga College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coalinga College and Palomar College graduates have the same median loan debt ($7,000 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Coalinga College and Palomar College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($72 vs. $72).
• More Coalinga College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.