Palomar College
Palomar College is a public certificate and vocational school in San Marcos, California, with about 17,712 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. In-state tuition starts near $1,354 per year before fees and aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,354
- 2024 Average Net Price: $5,763 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,712 35.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 37.53%
Palomar College: what the data shows
Common questions about Palomar College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Palomar College?
Palomar College is located in San Marcos, CA (ZIP 92069-1487).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Palomar College public or private?
Palomar College is a Public institution.
How much does Palomar College cost?
Published tuition: $1,354 in-state, $10,650 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $5,763.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $4,268 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,786 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,710 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $9,766 |
| $110,001+ | $12,642 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,416.
How big is Palomar College?
Total enrollment: 17,712 students.
About 36% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Palomar College?
150%-time completion rate: 37.53%.
First-year retention: 70.0%.
What do graduates of Palomar College earn?
Median earnings: $37,220 six years after entry; $42,300 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
18.26% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Palomar College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (4,595 completions)
- Liberal Arts & Sciences (789 completions)
- CIP 520201 (750 completions)
- CIP 240102 (426 completions)
- CIP 300101 (290 completions)
- CIP 450101 (240 completions)
- CIP 510904 (232 completions)
- Agricultural Production Operations (108 completions)
- General Psychology (102 completions)
- CIP 190709 (99 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Palomar College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 37.53%; median earnings $42,300 at 10 years; net price $5,763. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$1,354
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Palomar College was $1,354.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$5,763
2024 Value
In 2024 Palomar College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $5,763.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,052 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$5,763 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,416 4-Year In-State Tuition
$42,600 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Palomar College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
18.26% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.82% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Palomar College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Palomar College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,328 | $5,472 | $5,203 |
| 2014 | $1,336 | $5,648 | $3,591 |
| 2015 | $1,338 | $7,078 | $3,554 |
| 2016 | $1,338 | $7,078 | $3,648 |
| 2017 | $1,338 | $7,386 | $3,066 |
| 2018 | $1,338 | $8,702 | $4,061 |
| 2019 | $1,338 | $8,898 | $3,673 |
| 2020 | $1,344 | $9,604 | $4,982 |
| 2021 | $1,344 | $9,940 | $3,807 |
| 2022 | $1,348 | $10,644 | $5,723 |
| 2023 | $1,354 | $10,650 | $5,247 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
35.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Palomar College in 2024 is 17,712 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
12.24% 100% Completion Time
37.53% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 12.24% of students graduating from Palomar College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Palomar College.
Return on Investment
$42,300 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
1734.98% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for Palomar College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Liberal Arts & Sciences: 789 completions
CIP 52.0201: 750 completions
CIP 24.0102: 426 completions
CIP 30.0101: 290 completions
CIP 45.0101: 240 completions
CIP 51.0904: 232 completions
Agricultural Production Operations: 108 completions
General Psychology: 102 completions
CIP 19.0709: 99 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 4,595 completions
Most popular programs at Palomar College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Palomar College graduates.
About
Palomar College is a public institution located in San Marcos, CA, offering 107 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 17,712 students. The institution maintains a 37.53% graduation rate. Approximately 18.26% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
San Marcos, CA 92069-1487
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 37.53% graduation rate at Palomar College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 107 distinct degree programs, Palomar College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Palomar College cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $1,354 and average net price is $5,763 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Palomar College earn?
Median earnings are $37,220 six years after entry and $42,300 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Palomar College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 37.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How big is Palomar College?
Total enrollment is about 17,712 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Palomar College public or private?
Palomar College is a public institution located in San Marcos, CA.
Is Palomar College an HBCU?
No. Palomar College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Palomar College a tribal college?
No. Palomar College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Palomar College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Palomar College reports 50.0% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Palomar College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Palomar College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.