Palomar College

www2.palomar.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$1,288

2024 Average Net Price

$8,372

After Financial Aid

2024 Enrolled Students

19,550

33% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

37.5%

638 Graduates

About

Palomar College is a higher education institution located in San Diego County, CA. In 2024, the most popular 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentrations at Palomar College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (619 degrees awarded), General Studies (426 degrees), and Fire Science & Fire-Fighting (78 degrees).

In 2024, 4,595 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Palomar College. 45.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 54.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was hispanic or latino (2,062 degrees), 1.2 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (1,725 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Palomar College is $1,288, which is $−6,896 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,184).

Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Palomar College is $1,288, which is $6,896 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,184).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $8,372.

In 2024, 45% of undergraduate students attending Palomar College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 1% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$1,288

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Palomar College was $1,288. The cost of tuition at Palomar College is $−6,896 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,184).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Palomar College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$8,372

2024 Value

5.29%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Palomar College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,372. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Palomar College grew by 5.29%.

This chart compares the average net price of Palomar College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$23,076

Room and Board

$938

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Palomar College was of $23,076 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 3.3% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $938. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 18.6% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Palomar College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

45%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

45% of undergraduate students at Palomar College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 2.17% with respect to 2023, when 46% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Palomar College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Enrollment

Palomar College had a total enrollment of 19,550 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Palomar College is 6,443 students and the part-time enrollment is 13,107. This means that 33% of students enrolled at Palomar College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Palomar College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 49.8% Hispanic or Latino, 31.6% White, 6.56% Asian, 6.34% Two or More Races, 2.93% Black or African American, 0.598% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.404% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Palomar College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Male (25.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (24.5%) and White Male (17.9%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

33%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Palomar College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 19,550 students. The full-time enrollment at Palomar College is 6,443 and the part-time enrollment is 13,107. This means that 33% of students enrolled at Palomar College are enrolled full-time compared with 32.1% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Palomar College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

70%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Palomar College was 70%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (64%), Palomar College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Palomar College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

Hispanic or Latino
9,728 enrolled students
White
6,181 enrolled students
Asian
1,282 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Palomar College is 49.8% Hispanic or Latino, 31.6% White, 6.56% Asian, 6.34% Two or More Races, 2.93% Black or African American, 0.598% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.404% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 40.5% White, 29.2% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.8% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 259 students (1.32%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 415 fewer women than men received degrees from Palomar College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Palomar College is hispanic or latino (2,062 degrees awarded). There were 1.2 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (1,725 degrees).

The most common 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentration at Palomar College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (619 degrees awarded), followed by General Studies (426 degrees) and Fire Science & Fire-Fighting (78 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Palomar College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Library Science (18 degrees awarded), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,323 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (70 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Palomar College are Elementary & middle school teachers (166,049 people), Other managers (95,671 people), Secondary school teachers (65,127 people), Postsecondary teachers (52,289 people), and Education administrators (51,823 people).

The most specialized majors at Palomar College in 2024 are Library Science (18 degrees awarded), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,323 degrees), Language & Linguistics (70 degrees), Human Sciences (120 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (290 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Palomar College are Surgeons, Chief executives & legislators, Correspondence clerks & order clerks, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Palomar College are Library Science (18 degrees awarded), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,323 degrees), Language & Linguistics (70 degrees), Human Sciences (120 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (290 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Palomar College are Elementary & secondary schools (368,276 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (152,534 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (139,630 people), Computer Systems Design (80,097 people), and Outpatient care centers (56,641 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Palomar College.

Most Common (2024)

Liberal Arts & Sciences
619 degrees awarded
General Studies
426 degrees awarded
Fire Science & Fire-Fighting
78 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Palomar College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 619 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Palomar College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,505

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

2,090

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 2,505 degrees were awarded to men at Palomar College, which is 1.2 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,090).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Palomar College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 609 degrees were awarded to men at Palomar College in General Business Administration & Management, which is 4.32 times more than the 141 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 476 degrees were awarded to men at Palomar College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.52 times more than the 313 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

17%

100% Completion Time

34%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 17% of students graduating from Palomar College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 34% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 40% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

Hispanic or Latino
2,062 degrees awarded
White
1,725 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
267 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Palomar College is hispanic or latino (2,062 degrees awarded). There were 1.2 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (1,725 degrees).

1.02% of degree recipients (47 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

Hispanic or Latino Female
1,059 degrees awarded
White Male
1,008 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
1,003 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Palomar College is hispanic or latino female (1,059 degrees awarded). There were 1.05 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,008 degrees).

Operations

Palomar College has an endowment valued at nearly $22.4M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 15.6M (69.9%) compared to the 13.1% average return (853k on 6.52M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2024, Palomar College had a total salary expenditure of 262M. Palomar College employs 280 Instructors. Most academics at Palomar College are Female Instructor (153), and Male Instructor (127).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Palomar College are: Office and Administrative Support, with 129 employees, Service, with 92 employees, and Management with 65 employees.

Endowment

$22.4M

2024 Endowment

11.1%

growth from 2023

Palomar College has an endowment valued at about $22.4M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Palomar College grew 11.1% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $15.9M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Palomar College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$4.1M - Federal
$34.4M - State
$2.37M - Local

As of 2024, Palomar College received $4.1M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $34.4M from state grants and contracts, and $2.37M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$116M

2024 Salaries

growth from 2023

In 2024, Palomar College paid a median of $116M in salaries, which represents 44.1% of their overall expenditure ($262M) and a 0% growth from the previous year.

Instructional Salaries

$38.9M

Instructional Salaries

280

Number of Employees

In 2024, Palomar College paid a total of $38.9M to 280 employees working as instructors, which represents 33.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $763k (4.03%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Palomar College were Office and Administrative Support with 129 employees, Service with 92 employees, and Management with 65 employees.

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