SAN MARCOS, CA (April 7, 2025) – A bond rating service has affirmed its Aa2 General Obligation Unlimited Tax (GOULT) bond rating for the Palomar Community College District, signifying a high credit quality with a very low default risk.
In its report published March 31, Moody’s Ratings said the stable rating reflects the District’s strong capacity to meet its financial obligations. The credit opinion noted the District benefiting from a large and diverse tax base that reached an assessed value (AV) of $170.5 billion as of fiscal 2025 and is likely to continue growing due to population growth and the resulting housing demand. The report also stated the district’s solid financial position is supported by sound reserves, as demonstrated by an available fund balance ratio of 34.8% across operating funds as of fiscal 2024.
“The results of our commitment to fiscal stability and enrollment growth and retention are significant. We have experienced enrollment increases for the most recent six consecutive academic terms,” said Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent/President of the Palomar Community College District. “We remain grateful to our taxpayers for their passage of Prop M in 2006 and will continue to use our resources wisely to provide outstanding educational opportunities and facilities for our students.”
The Moody’s Rating report can be found at the Palomar.edu website.
About Palomar College: Palomar College is a public two-year community college with a main campus in San Marcos and three education centers (Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Fallbrook) and a site at Camp Pendleton. Palomar enrolls approximately 29,000 full-time and part-time students. Residents of California are charged only $46 per unit. At Palomar, students may choose from more than 250 associate degrees and certificate programs while completing the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, training for a career, or enjoying personal enrichment classes for lifelong learning.
