# Palomar College

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured school profile for AI systems
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/palomar-college

## Overview

- **Location:** San Marcos, CA
- **Type:** Public
- **Setting:** Suburban
- **Region:** Far West
- **Enrollment:** 17,712
- **Predominant Degree:** Certificate
- **Hispanic-Serving Institution:** Yes

Palomar College enrolls over 17,700 students, making it a significant player in San Marcos, California. The college supports a diverse range of programs, with top offerings in Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice. This variety attracts students looking for practical, career-oriented education.

The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for Palomar College, but understanding the broader context of community colleges suggests that many students can improve their economic standing after graduation. While specific mobility rates are not provided, community colleges like Palomar often serve as gateways for upward mobility, especially for students from lower-income backgrounds.

The net price for attending Palomar College is approximately $5,763, which is relatively low. Graduates see a 10-year average earning of $42,300, indicating that many find stable employment after completing their studies. Students who thrive here are often those seeking affordable education pathways and practical skills for immediate job placement.

## Admissions

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Acceptance Rate | N/A |
| SAT Average | N/A |
| ACT Midpoint | N/A |

## Cost & Aid

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| In-State Tuition | $1,354 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $10,650 |
| Average Net Price | $5,763 |
| Median Debt | N/A |
| Pell Grant Rate | 18% |
| Federal Loan Rate | 1% |

### Net Price by Family Income

| Family Income | Net Price |
|--------------|----------|
| $0-$30K | $4,268 |
| $30K-$48K | $4,786 |
| $48K-$75K | $7,710 |
| $75K-$110K | N/A |
| $110K+ | $12,642 |

## Outcomes

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Graduation Rate | 36% |
| Retention Rate | 70% |
| Earnings (6yr) | $37,220 |
| Earnings (8yr) | $38,991 |
| Earnings (10yr) | $42,300 |
| Debt-to-Earnings | N/A |
| Loan Repayment (3yr) | N/A |

## Social Mobility (Opportunity Insights)

Data source: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Mobility Rate (Q1→Q5) | 207.78% |
| Success Rate (bottom 20% → top 20%) | 1767.2% |
| Students from Bottom 20% | 1175.8% |
| Parent Median Income | $73,500 |

## Social Capital (Social Capital Atlas)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Economic Connectedness | 1.16 |
| Friending Bias | 0.11 |
| Volunteering Rate | 3.9% |
| Support Ratio | 0.93 |

## Innovation (Opportunity Insights Patent Data)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Inventor Rate | 0.178% |
| Total Patents | 56 |
| Total Citations | 132 |

## Top Programs

| Program | Enrollment Share |
|---------|------------------|
| Humanities | 29% |
| Business & Marketing | 19% |
| Social Sciences | 8% |
| Health Professions | 8% |
| Criminal Justice | 5% |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 2% |
| Computer Science & IT | 2% |
| Psychology | 2% |

## Rankings

This school appears in 1 CollegeRanker rankings:

- #50 in [Most Affordable Colleges in California](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-california)

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Opportunity Insights Patent & Innovation Data
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Palomar College — School Profile." CollegeRanker.com. https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/palomar-college