Citrus College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Citrus College in Glendora, 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 Citrus College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 10,429 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Citrus College is located in Glendora, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Citrus 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: Citrus College 24:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Citrus College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Citrus 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 Citrus College than College of the Desert ($6,607 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Citrus College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Citrus College (about $122 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,204.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Citrus College than at College of the Desert (about $462 more per year; $10,636.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Citrus College (88% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Citrus College students is 4.8% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,152 vs. $6,822).

Citrus College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

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

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

Citrus College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Citrus 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 $1,200 more per year than Citrus College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $162 lower median loan debt than Citrus College graduates ($5,338 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Citrus College graduates ($55 vs. $56).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Citrus College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 32%)

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.