Cerro Coso Community College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, 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 Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Cerro Coso Community 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: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community 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 College of the Desert than Cerro Coso Community College ($18,169 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerro Coso Community College are 3.8% lower than at College of the Desert ($24,192 vs. $25,151).
• Cerro Coso Community College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $58 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Cerro Coso Community College than at College of the Desert (about $1,080 more per year; $11,254.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Cerro Coso Community College (88% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 24.9% larger than aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students ($6,822 vs. $5,464).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community 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 $2,500 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.