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.
AccreditorAccrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training
Academic CalendarContinuous
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
Outcomes81
Value—
Affordability42
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.
$3,76010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$13,555Medianpercentile
$19,80775%percentile
$22,29290%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
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.
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
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 SuburbLancaster, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
45%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuousscheduling 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.
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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