Palomar Institute of Cosmetology
San Marcos, CA 92078
About Palomar Institute of Cosmetology
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit trade school in San Marcos, California, enrolling about 193 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. The published completion rate is about 94.90% at 150% of normal time. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $33,498 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $33,498.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 274% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palomar Institute of Cosmetology | — | $22,365 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,757 | — | 494 |
| California (state median) | $8,510 | $7,373 | 288 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,346 | $18,882 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $12,200 | $17,569 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology really?
Evidence: average net price at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is $22,365.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $22,365 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,992 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,483 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Palomar Institute of Cosmetology—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Avg. net price
$22,365
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $20,135 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,299 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,971 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $26,201 |
| $110,001+ | $26,777 |
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is known for
Top program completions
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist133
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General62
- Real Estate Development60
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Palomar Institute of Cosmetology.
Campus
Location
San Marcos, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 92078
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 18% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,882 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
Size
Enrollment
193
Undergraduates (fall)
- Undergraduates (full year)
- 354
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 32.49%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Palomar Institute of Cosmetology.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology 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 Institute of Cosmetology 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 | — | — | $15,642 |
| 2014 | — | — | $12,969 |
| 2015 | — | — | $11,968 |
| 2016 | — | — | $12,994 |
| 2017 | — | — | $14,469 |
| 2018 | — | — | $13,668 |
| 2019 | — | — | $15,541 |
| 2020 | — | — | $14,094 |
| 2021 | — | — | $15,755 |
| 2022 | — | — | $16,475 |
| 2023 | — | — | $18,176 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology reported total enrollment of about 193 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 1% male and 99% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (53.4%), White (30.0%), and Two or More Races (5.7%). About 32.49% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 52.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology in 2024 is 193 students.
Over a full year, about 354 undergraduates enroll.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
97.4%
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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
19.39% 100% Completion Time
94.90% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 19.39% of students graduating from Palomar Institute of Cosmetology completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist: 1% male / 99% female
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 2% male / 98% female
- Real Estate Development: 0% male / 100% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology graduates earn a median of $33,498 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Palomar Institute of Cosmetology.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $33,498. Average net price used in cost models: $22,365.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Palomar Institute of Cosmetology graduates report median earnings of $33,498 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 3 programs by IPEDS completions (4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Palomar Institute of Cosmetology graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Palomar Institute of Cosmetology—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,179
- California median 0.34× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 0.31× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.30× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology at a glance
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution in San Marcos, CA.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care SpecialistCosmetology/Cosmetologist, GeneralReal Estate Development
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino53.4%White or Caucasian30.0%Two or More Races5.7%
Schools near Palomar Institute of Cosmetology
Other campuses in San Marcos, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology located?
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is located in San Marcos, CA.
How much does Palomar Institute of Cosmetology cost?
Reported tuition is N/A and average net price is $22,365 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What explains Palomar Institute of Cosmetology's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($22,365), completion (94.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($33,498). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology?
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology reports undergraduate enrollment of about 354 students, Hispanic or Latino (53.4%), White (30.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Palomar Institute of Cosmetology?
About 52.6% of students at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Palomar Institute of Cosmetology earn?
Median earnings are $25,676 six years after entry and $33,498 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology?
The 150%-time completion rate is 94.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology public or private?
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution located in San Marcos, CA.
Is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology an HBCU?
No. Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology a tribal college?
No. Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Palomar Institute of Cosmetology religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Palomar Institute of Cosmetology 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
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- San Marcos, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.