UC Berkeley vs. Palomar College

University of California Berkeley and Palomar College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Berkeley
Palomar College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Palomar College. Average net price is $8,372 vs $16,538 at UC Berkeley.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UC Berkeley $74,700 vs Palomar College $39,700 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Berkeley Palomar College
Acceptance rate
UC Berkeley more selective
UC Berkeley11%
Palomar College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
UC Berkeley higher
UC Berkeley1310-1530
Palomar College-
Average net price
Palomar College $8,166 less
UC Berkeley$16,538
Palomar College$8,372
In-state tuition
Palomar College $14,993 less
UC Berkeley$16,347
Palomar College$1,354
Out-of-state tuition
Palomar College $39,897 less
UC Berkeley$50,547
Palomar College$10,650
Graduation rate
UC Berkeley +90 pts
UC Berkeley90%
Palomar College-
Median earnings (10 years)
UC Berkeley +$35,000
UC Berkeley$74,700
Palomar College$39,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Palomar College -
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Palomar College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Palomar College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Palomar College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Palomar College
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Palomar College
  • Average high school GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Palomar College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Palomar College -
  • Admissions standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Palomar College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Palomar College
  • SAT range
  • UC Berkeley 1310-1530
  • Palomar College
  • ACT range
  • UC Berkeley 30-35
  • Palomar College
  • Submit test scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Palomar College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Palomar College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Palomar College $1,354
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Palomar College $10,650
  • Room & board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Palomar College $25,804
  • Average net price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Palomar College $8,372
  • Average grant aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Palomar College $4,972
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Palomar College 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Palomar College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Palomar College $39,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Palomar College 30%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Palomar College $7,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Palomar College $72
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Palomar College 25:1
  • Popular majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Palomar College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Palomar College San Marcos, CA
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Palomar College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Palomar College 19,550
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Palomar College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Palomar College

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than Palomar College based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 19,550 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Berkeley 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 Berkeley 18:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Berkeley are 8% lower than at Palomar College ($23,750 vs. $25,804).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 374.6% higher at UC Berkeley than at Palomar College (about $39,897 more per year; $50,547 vs. $10,650).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at University of California Berkeley (81% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 495.5% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($29,608 vs. $4,972).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Berkeley, open admission at Palomar College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $7,200 lower median loan debt than UC Berkeley graduates ($7,000 vs. $14,200).
  • Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Berkeley graduates ($72 vs. $146).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation (79% 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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