Palomar College

San Marcos, California

Public Associate Programs

$1,354

In-State Tuition

33.8%

Graduation Rate

$42,300

Median Earnings

16,167

Enrollment

Palomar College is a public institution in San Marcos, California with 16,167 undergraduate students. For nursing students, the useful read is not just whether a program exists, but how its tuition, completion rates, debt, and earnings compare with nearby options.

In-state tuition is $1,354 compared with a California nursing-school average of $10,571. The school reports a graduation rate of 33.8%, median earnings of $42,300, and median federal debt of N/A.

Tuition vs State

$1,354

-$9,217

$1,354 is lower than the state average of $10,571.

Graduation vs State

33.8%

-21.2%

33.8% is lower than the state average of 55.0%.

Earnings vs State

$42,300

-$1,130

$42,300 is lower than the state average of $43,430.

Tuition rank: Cheapest 58% Graduation rank: Top 77% Value rank: Not enough peer data

About Palomar College

Location	San Marcos, California
Institution Type	Public
Highest Degree	associate
Website	www2.palomar.edu
In-State Tuition	$1,354
Out-of-State Tuition	$10,650
Total Enrollment	16,167
Acceptance Rate	N/A
Graduation Rate	33.8%
Retention Rate	71.4%
Median Earnings (10 yrs after)	$42,300
Median Debt at Graduation	N/A
Pell Grant Recipients	17.2%
Students Receiving Loans	0.7%
Loan Default Rate	0.0%
Nursing Program	Available

Cost and Return Snapshot

Based on published tuition, median debt, and earnings data

4-Year Tuition

$5,416

Median Debt

N/A

Monthly Payment

N/A

Earnings / Debt

N/A

Affordability Context

17.2% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful signal for how often the school serves lower-income students. 0.7% of students take federal loans, so borrowing is less common than at many institutions in the student body. The three-year loan default rate is 0.0%, which helps frame repayment risk alongside earnings and debt.

Cost and Outcomes Context

The value picture at Palomar College depends on the relationship between price, borrowing, and outcomes. A simple four-year tuition estimate is $5,416, while the reported median debt is N/A. These figures should be compared with aid offers and program-specific requirements before making a final decision.