SAN MARCOS, CA (August 25, 2025) — There is a certain amount of resilience when it comes to community college students as many are juggling jobs and family obligations along with their schoolwork. They have a level of determination that some say you don’t see in other college environments. Palomar College students exemplify this perseverance, as fall enrollment data indicates a slight uptick in student headcount compared to the previous fall.
“As our college-wide focus on student success continues, there are many facets to consider. During the last academic year, we instituted a ‘student-first’ class scheduling initiative, which integrates the needs of our busy students with degree pathways, allowing them to promptly complete their degrees and move on to 4-year institutions or new careers,” said Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent/President of Palomar College. “Our students are the primary beneficiary of this initiative, and our enrollment data is indicative of our impact.”
More than 19,580 students are enrolled for the fall semester at Palomar College. Twenty-five percent of these students are new to Palomar and attending college for the first time.
“The first week of the semester always has an elevated level of excitement. For students who might be a bit wary about the start of a new semester our welcome events during this first week give them a chance to engage with our student support programs,” said Dr. Rivera-Lacey. “Everyone here has been hard at work preparing for this semester, and we are excited to serve our students and support them on their path to success.”
To assist students with the cost of their education, Palomar College awarded 6,834 students through the California College Promise Grant, waiving a total of $4,715,460.00 in enrollment fees. An additional 2,500 Promise students also received a $200 bookstore voucher. Furthermore, the Palomar College Foundation will be funding scholarships to students who apply by the September 1 deadline. The Foundation has a scholarship fund of $1 million.
Palomar College, with a main campus in San Marcos and education centers in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, and Fallbrook, offers associate degrees and certificates in hundreds of subjects and high demand fields. In addition, Palomar partners with dozens of high schools to offer college-level courses for free to high school students. The College also provides college credit in over 200 courses to students who have college-level skills and knowledge gained outside of the classroom.
Palomar College offers 16-week full semester courses and condensed courses that are eight and four weeks in length. Registration remains open and information can be found at Palomar.edu.