Monterey Peninsula College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, 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 Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 7,173 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Monterey Peninsula College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Monterey Peninsula College 23:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palomar College are 26.5% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($25,804 vs. $35,118).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Palomar College than at Monterey Peninsula College (about $78 more per year; $10,650 vs. $10,572).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Monterey Peninsula College than at Palomar College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,088 vs. $4,972).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Monterey Peninsula College and Palomar College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027.

Loans and repayment

• More Monterey Peninsula 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.