City College of San Francisco vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

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

City College of San Francisco is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco than College of the Desert ($9,616 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 6.5% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($25,151 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 27.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $370 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.1% higher at City College of San Francisco than at College of the Desert (about $4,482 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at City College of San Francisco (88% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 7.3% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,318 vs. $6,822).

City College of San Francisco vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,912 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($55 vs. $85).
• More City College of San Francisco graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.