Palomar College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Palomar College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or West 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 West Valley College than Palomar College ($7,270 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 27% lower than at West Valley College ($25,804 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $136 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,354.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.4% higher at Palomar College than at West Valley College (about $1,948 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College as at West Valley College (81% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palomar College students is 3.5% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($4,972 vs. $4,806).

Palomar College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Palomar College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palomar College and West 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.