Federal Student Loan Cohort Default Rate

WHAT IS A COHORT DEFAULT RATE?

A school’s cohort default rate (CDR) is the percentage of a school’s students who had certain federal student loans enter repayment in a federal fiscal year and then default before the end of the cohort default rate period.

Cohort default rates are based on federal fiscal years. Federal fiscal years begin October 1 of a calendar year and end on September 30th of the following calendar year. Each federal fiscal year refers to the calendar year in which it ends.

At Palomar College, we are dedicated to promoting financial transparency and providing valuable information to our students and the community. As part of our commitment to openness, we have implemented a policy to disclose our Cohort Default Rate (CDR) on an annual basis, regardless of whether it rises above or remains below the national average. If Palomar College’s CDR exceeds the national average, we will promptly notify identified Service Members via email of the updated CDR status. 

Palomar College most recent CDRs:

FY 2019: 5.3%

FY 2018: 14.5%

FY 2017: 11.2%

Please refer to the Cohort Default Rate Guide for a more in-depth description of cohort default rates and how the rates are calculated.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding our cohort default rate notification process or any other financial aid matters, please do not hesitate to contact our Financial Aid Office for assistance. 

Last modified on August 2, 2023