The College was ranked 9th in the state among community colleges, based on factors like affordability, graduation rate, and salary after graduation.

SAN MARCOS — Palomar College was ranked 9th among the hundreds of two-year colleges in the State of California, according to a recent article published by the website EDsmart.org

The article, “Best Colleges & Universities in California,” compiled data from the National Center for Education Statistics and College Scorecard for some 247 2-year junior or community colleges in the state.

“At Palomar, we are committed to student success, and we offer unparalleled value through our innovative programs, top-notch faculty and services, and excellent student outcomes,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey.

According to EDsmart.org, the ranking was based on four factors:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction, based on retention rates
  • Academic quality, based on graduation rates
  • Salary after attending

Palomar College was also highly ranked in a separate survey of California colleges by the website Intelligent.com, which published its list of “Best Community Colleges in California of 2023.”

Using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and other sources, Palomar College was ranked 38th out of 213 colleges included in the Intelligent.com study.