ARC vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

ARC vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or College of the Desert? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American River College than College of the Desert ($9,488 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $38 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at ARC than at College of the Desert (about $2,442 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at College of the Desert (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 25% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,822 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or College of the Desert? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of the Desert and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.

ARC vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and College of the Desert? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from American River College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $6,895 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($5,338 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($55 vs. $126).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.