Palomar College campus
Palomar College logo

Palomar College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Suburb: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Student to faculty ratio 22 to 1
Students retention rate 66%
On-time graduation rate 29%

Located in San Marcos, California, Palomar is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Palomar College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Palomar College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at Palomar is reported to be 29%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, California state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 56% whereas the national average was 35%.

The student retention rate of 66% at Palomar suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$1,344

Cost of attendance at Palomar College in 2022 for students from California.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $6,749
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$9,940

Cost of attendance at Palomar College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $20,840
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 79 of freshman students at Palomar College received on average $4,544 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$4,544
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 639 33% $4,973 $3,177,817
Other Federal Grant 873 45% $4,677 $4,082,917
State Grant/Scholarships 1,493 77% $1,922 $2,869,487
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 0 0% - -
Total Grant & Scholarships 1,530 79% $4,544 $6,952,404

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Palomar College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Palomar College students is 29.1%. Female students graduated at a rate of 31.7%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 26.5%.

29.1%

  • asian 48.8% 79 students
  • African American 21.9% 14 students
  • white 36.0% 244 students
  • unknown 24.0% 6 students
  • hawaiian 14.3% 2 students
  • hispanic 22.8% 265 students
  • International Students 42.3% 22 students
  • Mixed Race 25.0% 30 students

Service Offerings

Palomar College provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Palomar College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training