Pierce College vs. Palomar College

Los Angeles Pierce College and Palomar College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Los Angeles Pierce College
Palomar College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Palomar College. Average net price is $8,372 vs $14,469 at Pierce College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Pierce College $39,800 vs Palomar College $39,700 (median).
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Key differences

Los Angeles Pierce College Palomar College
Acceptance rate
Pierce College-
Palomar College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Pierce College-
Palomar College-
Average net price
Palomar College $6,097 less
Pierce College$14,469
Palomar College$8,372
In-state tuition
Pierce College $116 less
Pierce College$1,238
Palomar College$1,354
Out-of-state tuition
Pierce College $78 less
Pierce College$10,572
Palomar College$10,650
Graduation rate
Pierce College-
Palomar College-
Median earnings (10 years)
Pierce College +$100
Pierce College$39,800
Palomar College$39,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Pierce College -
  • Palomar College -
  • Admitted
  • Pierce College -
  • Palomar College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Pierce College Open
  • Palomar College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Pierce College Open
  • Palomar College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pierce College
  • Palomar College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pierce College
  • Palomar College
  • Average high school GPA
  • Pierce College -
  • Palomar College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Pierce College -
  • Palomar College -
  • Admissions standards
  • Pierce College Unavailable
  • Palomar College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Pierce College
  • Palomar College
  • SAT range
  • Pierce College
  • Palomar College
  • ACT range
  • Pierce College
  • Palomar College
  • Submit test scores
  • Pierce College Open admission
  • Palomar College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Pierce College Aug 20, 2027
  • Palomar College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Pierce College $1,238
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Pierce College $10,572
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • Room & board
  • Pierce College $25,407
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • Average net price
  • Pierce College $14,469
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • Average grant aid
  • Pierce College $6,398
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Pierce College 71%
  • Palomar College 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • Pierce College -
  • Palomar College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Pierce College $39,800
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Pierce College 33%
  • Palomar College 30%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Pierce College $10,500
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Pierce College $108
  • Palomar College $72
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Pierce College 30:1
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • Popular majors
  • Pierce College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (60%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Location
  • Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • Setting
  • Pierce College Large City
  • Palomar College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pierce College 16,906
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • Type
  • Pierce College Public 2 Year
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Pierce College
  • Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA with Palomar College in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Palomar College is larger than Pierce College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 16,906 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
  • Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce College are 1.5% lower than at Palomar College ($25,407 vs. $25,804).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Palomar College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (about $78 more per year; $10,650 vs. $10,572).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (81% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,398 vs. $4,972).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Pierce College and Palomar College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,500).
  • Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
  • More Pierce College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation (33% vs. 30%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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