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MiraCosta College Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College San Diego Miramar College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Mt. San Jacinto CCD Orange Coast College GCC| Palomar College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
| Location | San Marcos, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 18,815 | 23,164 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | palomar.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $10,584 | $9,264 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,076 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,951 | $5,636 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,777 | $5,515 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 78% | 63% |
Admission |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 24:1 | 27:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 30% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $7,000 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $72 | $67 |
Diversity |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 40% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 40% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Palomar College | SMC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (23,164 students vs. 18,815 students)
Palomar College vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Palomar College or SMC?
- Palomar College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than SMC for in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.2% higher at Palomar College than Santa Monica College ($10,584.00 vs. $9,264.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than Palomar College ($5,636 vs. $7,951)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 99.7% lower than costs at Palomar College ($11,556 vs. $23,076)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Palomar College than Santa Monica College (78% vs. 63%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 15.4% larger than aid received Palomar College ($5,515 vs. $4,777)
Which college is harder to get into, Palomar College or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or Palomar College .
Palomar College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Palomar College or SMC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMC and Palomar College.
- Graduates from Palomar College earn on average $700 more per year than SMC graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,000)
- Santa Monica College students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Palomar College graduates. ($6,500 vs. $7,000)
- SMC graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Palomar College graduates. ($67 vs. $72)
- More SMC 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/