C
Average
Score: 51/100

Palomar College

2-Year Public
📍 San Marcos, California 92069
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 34%
Outcomes
C
50/100
Affordability
B+
76/100
Resources
C
53/100
Experience
D
42/100
Prestige
D
32/100

Quick Stats

18,815
Total Enrollment
34%
Graduation Rate
71%
Retention Rate
24.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$7,951
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Palomar College

25% of students live off-campus (not with family), creating consistent rental demand near campus. That's approximately 4,741 students who need housing.

Avg Home Value
$904,938
Avg Monthly Rent
$3,187
1-Year Change
+2.2%
For parents & investors

The Palomar College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $904,938
  • Avg rent near campus: $3,187/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 92057 (3.0% cap, Oceanside)

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🏆 Where Palomar College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#8
Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
of 13 schools
#16
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
of 31 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $1,288 $10,584

Financial Aid

78%
Receive Any Aid
35%
Receive Pell Grants
1%
Take Out Loans
$7,951
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$4,065
$30,001 - $48,000$4,554
$48,001 - $75,000$7,762
$75,001 - $110,000$10,075
$110,001+$11,879

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 789 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 750 grads/yr General Studies 426 grads/yr Biological and Physical Sciences 290 grads/yr Social Sciences, General 240 grads/yr Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 232 grads/yr Humanities/Humanistic Studies 108 grads/yr Psychology, General 102 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 99 grads/yr Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician 90 grads/yr Fire Science/Fire-fighting 78 grads/yr Mathematics, General 77 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 74 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 69 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 68 grads/yr Sociology, General 50 grads/yr Radio and Television 43 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 42 grads/yr Computer Science 40 grads/yr Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician 38 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Palomar College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs

Student Demographics

18,815
Total Students
46%
Women
56%
Traditional Age (18-24)
25%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 33%
Hispanic 49%
Black 3%
Asian 7%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 25%
With Family 75%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~4,741 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 40%
Hybrid (Some Online) 34%
Fully Online 27%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 56%
25-64 (Adult) 32%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Palomar College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Palomar College?
Tuition at Palomar College is $1,288 for in-state students and $10,584 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $7,951.
What is the graduation rate at Palomar College?
The graduation rate at Palomar College is 34%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Palomar College a good school?
Palomar College has a Repit College Score of 51/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Palomar College?
Palomar College has a total enrollment of 18,815 students.
Is there rental demand near Palomar College?
Yes! Approximately 25% of students at Palomar College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 4,741 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the San Marcos area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Palomar College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: September 2026 | Methodology