UCLA vs. Palomar College

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and Palomar College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
Palomar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Palomar College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Palomar College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Palomar College -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Palomar College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Palomar College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Palomar College 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Palomar College -
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Palomar College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Palomar College Open
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Palomar College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Palomar College
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Palomar College
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Palomar College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Palomar College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Palomar College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Palomar College
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Palomar College
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Palomar College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Palomar College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Palomar College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Palomar College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Palomar College 30%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Palomar College $72

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Palomar College 54%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Palomar College 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Palomar College High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Palomar College No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Palomar College 40%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Palomar College 6%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Palomar College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Palomar College 40%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Palomar College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Palomar College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Palomar College 5%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Palomar College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Palomar College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Palomar College 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Palomar College 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • Palomar College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • Palomar College No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • Palomar College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • Palomar College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • Palomar College Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 19,550 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; Palomar College 25:1.

UCLA vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or Palomar 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 UCLA ($8,372 vs. $14,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 28.8% lower than at Palomar College ($18,369 vs. $25,804).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 1,022.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palomar College (about $13,849 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $1,354.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 363.9% higher at UCLA than at Palomar College (about $38,753 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $10,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at University of California Los Angeles (81% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 415.4% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($25,627 vs. $4,972).

UCLA vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or Palomar 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 Palomar College and UCLA.

  • Palomar College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Palomar College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.

UCLA vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and Palomar 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 University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $31,000 more per year than Palomar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $9,300 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($7,000 vs. $16,300).
  • Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($72 vs. $168).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.