CostByCollegePublic, 2-year institution
How much does Palomar College cost
Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA. Total enrollment is 18,815 students, with 18,815 undergraduates.
The total cost for one year at Palomar College is $31,560 for in state students, living off campus and not with family. For out of state students the total is $40,856. Tuition and fees alone come to $1,354 of that total.
The cost breakdown
This school does not publish a complete on campus cost, so the total below uses the off campus figures for room, board, and other expenses, for a student who is not living with family. Each total is the sum of the rows above it, with nothing added and nothing left out.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, in state | $1,288 |
| Required fees, in state | $66 |
| Books and supplies | $938 |
| Room and board, off campus | $23,076 |
| Other expenses, off campus | $6,192 |
| Total cost for one year, in state | $31,560 |
Total cost for out of state students
Students from outside California pay a higher tuition rate at Palomar College. Every other part of the cost is the same.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, out of state | $10,584 |
| Required fees, out of state | $66 |
| Books and supplies | $938 |
| Room and board, off campus | $23,076 |
| Other expenses, off campus | $6,192 |
| Total cost for one year, out of state | $40,856 |
Average net price
The average net price at Palomar College is $7,951 for one year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across full time, first time students who received federal student aid and paid the in state or in district rate, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. It is an average, not a quote. A particular student can pay far less or close to the full published total, depending on family income and the aid the school offers.
That average net price is $10,053 below the average of $18,004 across the pilot schools on this site that publish a net price.
Cost weighed against outcomes
Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,300 a year. That figure covers students who received federal aid, who were working and not enrolled in further study at the ten year mark.
The graduation rate is 34%. It measures the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
How this school compares
Against its state: That is $10,067 below the California pilot school average of $41,627.
Against the country: That is $11,103 below the national pilot school average of $42,663.
State and national averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a total cost, 49 schools in California and 293 schools nationwide on this site. They describe the schools listed on this site, not every college in the state or the country.
Admissions at a glance
No acceptance rate or application count is published for Palomar College in the federal admissions data used here, so none is shown and there is no acceptance rate page for this school on this site.
Similar schools to compare
- San Jose State University, San Jose, California. Total cost $32,310 for one year.
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California. Total cost $32,321 for one year.
- California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, California. Total cost $30,640 for one year.
- San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California. Total cost $30,456 for one year.
- American River College, Sacramento, California. Total cost $30,106 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Palomar College cost per year?
The total cost for one year at Palomar College is $31,560 for in state students, living off campus and not with family. It counts tuition, required fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses. For out of state students the total is $40,856.
What is the average net price at Palomar College?
The average net price at Palomar College is $7,951 for one year, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across the students described on this page.
What is the graduation rate at Palomar College?
The graduation rate at Palomar College is 34%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Is Palomar College public or private?
Palomar College is a public, 2-year institution in San Marcos, California. Total enrollment is 18,815 students.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard, United States Department of Education. Tuition and cost figures are for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. Average net price figures are for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Earnings and debt figures come from the College Scorecard file dated June 10, 2026. See the methodology page for full detail.