Chabot College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Chabot College in Hayward, 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 Chabot College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 12,842 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chabot College is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Chabot 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: Chabot College 24:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Chabot College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chabot 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 Chabot College than College of the Desert ($11,043 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chabot College are 8.3% lower than at College of the Desert ($23,076 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chabot College (about $176 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.1% higher at College of the Desert than at Chabot College (about $1,488 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,686.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Chabot College (88% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 33.1% larger than aid received by Chabot College students ($6,822 vs. $5,125).

Chabot College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chabot College - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Chabot College Jul 30, 2027.

Chabot College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chabot 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 Chabot College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,600 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $3,537 lower median loan debt than Chabot College graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,875).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Chabot College graduates ($55 vs. $91).
• More Chabot 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.