Canada College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Canada College in Redwood City, CA with College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Desert is larger than Canada College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 6,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Canada College is located in Redwood City, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Canada 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: Canada College 27:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Canada College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Canada College 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 Canada College than College of the Desert ($4,276 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 19.6% lower than at Canada College ($25,151 vs. $31,288).
• Canada College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $6 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at Canada College than at College of the Desert (about $1,210 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Canada College (88% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 47.2% larger than aid received by Canada College students ($6,822 vs. $4,633).

Canada College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Canada College 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 Canada College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Canada College - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Canada College Aug 31, 2027.

Canada College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Canada College 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 Canada College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,000 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canada College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 34%)

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.