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Palomar College

San Marcos, CA·Public·16,167 students
Last updated: March 21, 2026

A good fit for students who want a large campus community and in-state California residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 16,167 students.

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Accept
16,167
Students
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
$40,300
Earnings
10 yr
N/A
Debt

About This School

Palomar College is a public institution located in San Marcos, California with approximately 16,167 undergraduate students enrolled. In-state tuition is $1,354 per year. Typical graduates earn $40,300 within 10 years of enrollment.

Palomar College is a public community college in San Diego County, California. The main campus is in San Marcos and three centers and four education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County.

Worth considering if you're looking for an affordable entry point into higher education in San Diego County, with a large campus community of over 16,000 students and multiple locations across north county that make access convenient. The honest concern is the median earnings figure — $40,300 a decade after enrollment is modest, so students should be intentional about choosing a transfer pathway to a four-year university or a career-focused program with strong local job demand, rather than treating this as a destination degree.

Founded
1946

Notable Alumni

Tommy Lister Jr.Bobby LeeKen BlockNia JaxRobert StrombergRyan DahlTom DempseyTravis Browne

Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.

Admissions

SAT Scores

Average CompositeN/A

ACT Scores

Midpoint CompositeN/A

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$1,354
Out-of-State Tuition
$10,650
Avg Net Price
N/A
after aid

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants17%
Median debt at graduationN/A

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
N/A
within 6 years
Retention Rate
N/A
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
$40,300
after enrollment
Median Debt
N/A
at graduation

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
N/A
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
$27,400
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
$40,300
after enrollment

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White34%
Black3%
Hispanic/Latino49%
Asian6%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (16,167 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA

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Other Schools in California

Browse all California schools →

Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
Trademarks

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