Private For-Profit Associate Strong 77/100

High Desert Medical College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Lancaster, California

About High Desert Medical College

High Desert Medical College is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Lancaster, California. It enrolls 2,245 students (a mid-sized 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
81.2%
Net Price
$29,627
Median Earnings (10yr)
Enrollment
2,245
Student : Faculty
25:1

Accreditor Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training
Academic Calendar Continuous

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.

Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 81
Value
Affordability 42
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, High Desert Medical College 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 High Desert Medical College 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 $29,627 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$29,627
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
57%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
59%
Borrowing to attend

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
    $28,959
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $28,873
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $29,971
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $32,495
  • Over $110,000
    $34,287

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.

$3,760
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$13,555
Median percentile
$19,807
75% percentile
$22,292
90% 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
Pell recipients $9,500 ↓ $4,055
No Pell $9,500 ↓ $4,055
Dependent students $9,500 ↓ $4,055
Independent students $9,500 ↓ $4,055
Female students $9,500 ↓ $4,055
Male students $9,500 ↓ $4,055
Pell recipients: 16.7% (2,259 students)No Pell: 16.7% (2,259 students)Dependent students: 16.7% (2,259 students)Independent students: 16.7% (2,259 students)Female students: 16.7% (2,259 students)Male students: 16.7% (2,259 students)Overall Median$13,555
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,750, less than completers ($13,555), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

81% of full-time students who enrolled at High Desert Medical College graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
81%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Post-graduation earnings data is not yet reported for High Desert Medical College.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
Earning > $25K
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$31,000$33,000$35,000$37,000$39,0006 yrs8 yrs

Who Studies Here

High Desert Medical College is home to 2,245 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 60% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
2,245
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
60%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 61.7% 1,385
White 13.9% 312
Black 12.9% 290
Other 4.6% 102
Asian 4.2% 95
International 0.0% 1
Hispanic: 61.7% (1,385 students)White: 13.9% (312 students)Black: 12.9% (290 students)Other: 4.6% (102 students)Asian: 4.2% (95 students)International: 0.0% (1 students)Total2,245

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at High Desert Medical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Lancaster, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
45% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuous scheduling structure

What You Can Study

High Desert Medical College offers a focused set of programs: 7 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

7 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at High Desert Medical College is 25:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
25:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,282
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

51 instructional faculty across 1 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
Instructors 51 100% $63,282

Pros & Cons of High Desert Medical College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how High Desert Medical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Open admissions
  • Strong six-year graduation rate
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for: Based on the data, High Desert Medical College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about High Desert Medical College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about High Desert Medical College.

Is High Desert Medical College hard to get into?
High Desert Medical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at High Desert Medical College?
High Desert Medical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does High Desert Medical College cost?
The average net price after aid at High Desert Medical College is $29,627 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is High Desert Medical College known for?
High Desert Medical College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is High Desert Medical College accredited?
Yes. High Desert Medical College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training.
How many students attend High Desert Medical College?
High Desert Medical College enrolls 2,245 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at High Desert Medical College?
High Desert Medical College graduates 81% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is High Desert Medical College a public or private college?
High Desert Medical College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is High Desert Medical College located?
High Desert Medical College is located in Lancaster, California.
What programs does High Desert Medical College offer?
High Desert Medical College offers 7 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at High Desert Medical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at High Desert Medical College is 25:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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