Antelope Valley Community College District vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, CA with College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Antelope Valley Community College District is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (13,532 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Antelope Valley Community College District is located in Lancaster, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Antelope Valley Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Antelope Valley Community College District 23:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Antelope Valley Community College District 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 Antelope Valley Community College District than College of the Desert ($6,110 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Antelope Valley Community College District are 44.5% lower than at College of the Desert ($13,960 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than Antelope Valley Community College District (about $202 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,124.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at College of the Desert than at Antelope Valley Community College District (about $626 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,548.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Antelope Valley Community College District (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Antelope Valley Community College District students ($6,822 vs. $6,490).

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Antelope Valley Community College District 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 Antelope Valley Community College District.

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

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Antelope Valley Community College District 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 College of the Desert earn a median of about $600 more per year than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,662 lower median loan debt than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($5,338 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($55 vs. $113).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Antelope Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 19%)

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.