Cerritos College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Cerritos 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: Cerritos College 26:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Cerritos College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos 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 Cerritos College than College of the Desert ($4,325 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,088 vs. $25,151).
• Cerritos College is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $38 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Cerritos College than at College of the Desert (about $1,830 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at College of the Desert (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,822 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

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

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

Cerritos College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos 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 College of the Desert earn a median of about $100 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $662 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($5,338 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($55 vs. $62).
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 35%)

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.