College of the Desert is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Palm Desert, California. It enrolls 10,207 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes39
Value34
Affordability43
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, College of the Desert generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending College of the Desert isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,728 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,728
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,326
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,174
Room & Board (off-campus)
$25,151
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,607
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,872
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,071
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,137
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,621
Over $110,000
$21,969
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,50010%percentile
$2,05825%percentile
$6,87575%percentile
$11,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Dependent students $2,700
—
Independent students $6,880
—
What this means:
38% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
14% of full-time students who enrolled at College of the Desert graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of the Desert earn a median of $39,020 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,020
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,300, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.5 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
College of the Desert is home to 10,207 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 62% are first-generation college students, 60% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
10,207
Part-Time
60%
First-Generation
62%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 73.7%7,519
White 14.6%1,488
Other 2.8%286
Asian 2.7%272
Black 2.5%256
International 0.7%68
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at College of the Desert. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityPalm Desert, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
29%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
College of the Desert offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
63 distinct programs across
28 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Desert is 25:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
25:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,001
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$62M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,432
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
127 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
69
54%
$112,750
Associate Professors
16
13%
$97,984
Assistant Professors
19
15%
$95,751
Instructors
11
9%
$88,622
No Rank
12
9%
$82,854
Pros & Cons of College of the Desert
A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of the Desert tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, College of the Desert is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about College of the Desert
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of the Desert.
Is College of the Desert hard to get into?
College of the Desert has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at College of the Desert?
College of the Desert has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does College of the Desert cost?
The average net price after aid at College of the Desert is $15,728 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is College of the Desert worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,020 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,728 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is College of the Desert known for?
College of the Desert is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do College of the Desert graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering College of the Desert are $39,020, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is College of the Desert accredited?
Yes. College of the Desert is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend College of the Desert?
College of the Desert enrolls 10,207 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at College of the Desert?
College of the Desert graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is College of the Desert a public or private college?
College of the Desert is a Public institution.
Where is College of the Desert located?
College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, California.
What programs does College of the Desert offer?
College of the Desert offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Desert?
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Desert is 25:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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