Palomar College (PC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Palomar College is a two-year community college located roughly 30 miles north of San Diego. With 30,000 students, 6 additional education centers scattered around the northern part of the county, and 200 degree and certificate programs, Palomar meets the professional and personal needs of a large portion of northern California.

The main campus is located in San Marcos, a suburb of San Diego, while the additional education sites are in Escondido, Camp Pendleton, the Pauma Indian reservation, and at three high schools: Mt. Carmel, Fallbrook, and Ramona. Palomar is currently working toward a master plan set to culminate in 2022 which will grow the size and scope of the college even further.

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Information Summary

Ranks 241st in California and 2588th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	56.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$3,256
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	27 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	70% / 40%
Enrollment Total (all students)	23,917

Academics

Palomar participates in transfer agreements with both the California State University and the University of California systems for students in all five of their academic divisions: Arts, Media, Business and Computer Systems; Career, Technical and Extended Education; Language and Literature; Mathematics and The Natural Health and Sciences; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students from Palomar studying in these disciplines can easily transfer to any California State University or University of California campus and be guaranteed to bring all of their credits with them.

In order to meet the needs of working students, Palomar offers fast track classes for students who wish to move through their programs quickly, self-paced classes that let students to move either slowly, quickly, or intermittently as their other commitments allow, and late start classes that begin after the first week of the semester.

Some of the more unique concentrations offered at Palomar include American Indian Studies, American Sign Language, Fire Technology, and Zoology. Occupational and non-credit programs include Construction Inspection, Electro-Mechanical Equipment Technician, Public Works Management, Wastewater Technology Education, and Water Technology Education. With such a wide range of choices, students can enroll in classes as diverse as Recreational Leadership, Tagalog, Digital 3D Design and Modeling, Preventive Dentistry, and Inductance and Capacitance Theory and Codeology.

Although the on-site facilities are not as extensive as they would be at a residential school, computers are available for student use at the Academic Technology Computer Labs on the ground floor of the college library. Four specialized computers are available for disabled students. Wireless laptops are also available for in-class uses such as project demonstrations or group research.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

There are a number of programs at Palomar to reach out to students who may have difficult acclimating to college academics. The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOP&S) program is a state-funded initiative to help orient, recruit, and retain college students from California who are economically, socially, and/or educationally disadvantaged. EOP&S offers financial assistance and academic support to qualified students. EOP&S services are geared towards full-time students with risk factors for failure, including being at least one of the following: a first-generation college student, a re-entry student, a student with a disability, a student whose first language is something other than English, an ethnic minority, or a student with a poor educational record.

Palomar has also developed a Department of Education-funded program called the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This is a five-year initiative to improve the academic success and retention rate of Latino students. Components include a supportive summer program, first year mentoring, an early acceptance program, a faculty mentor program, and supplemental instruction. To help members of their wider community succeed in business, Palomar offers a Command Spanish

Admissions

The admissions process does not exclude anyone who wishes to enroll in the college, with the exception of international students not in possession of an F-1, M-1, J-1, or J-2 visa. An online admission application is available on the school

Financial Aid

Palomar students enjoy the advantages of the California Community College system, which regulates the fee structure at the college. Enrollment costs are for a minimal charge per credit hour for California residents. Out-of-state students are charged a substantial extra fee per credit.

Regardless of their financial status, however, all students are encouraged to apply for financial aid. Palomar offers work-study programs as well as the standard grants and loans. Emergency funds are available to help students in need. The Steinberg Loan is a one-time $250 disbursement which requires a one week application process. A $50 emergency loan is also available to qualified students.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6833rd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in California.

Students

Most of the 14,000 + students at Palomar attend part-time while working, parenting, or pursuing other life goals

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Palomar College has both men

Local Community

A true

Alumni

Well-known alumni of Palomar include former NFL player Tom Dempsey, Washington Nationals pitcher Matt Chico, founder of DC shoes and rally car driver Ken Block, and EMS Videos Studio founder Alex Maximov.

Additional School Information

The Career Center is open five days a week with extended hours (7:30 AM to 7 PM) Monday-Thursday. The center connects students with both on- and off-campus employment opportunities. Individual appointments for career counseling, resume help, and aptitude tests are available through the center. Student employment is available on-campus at the bookstore, the Wellness Center, the Child Development Center, and in most academic departments. Federal work-study job are available in many of the college

Bibliography

Career Center: Frequently Asked Questions. Palomar College. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

Fiske, Edward B. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2010. Print.

Mission. Palomar College. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

Palomar College Fact Sheet. Palomar College. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

Pope, Loren. Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That

Palomar College