Chaffey College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

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

Chaffey College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Chaffey 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: Chaffey College 25:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Chaffey College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College than College of the Desert ($7,809 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chaffey College are 0.4% lower than at College of the Desert ($25,038 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $142 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.3% higher at Chaffey College than at College of the Desert (about $946 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Chaffey College (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Chaffey College students ($6,822 vs. $5,787).

Chaffey College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

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

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

Chaffey College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 Chaffey College earn a median of about $200 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Chaffey 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.