Coastline Community College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, 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 Coastline Community College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,008 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Coastline 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: Coastline Community College 39:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Coastline Community College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline 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 Coastline Community College than College of the Desert ($16,972 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastline Community College are 5.9% lower than at College of the Desert ($23,659 vs. $25,151).
• Coastline Community College is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $38 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Coastline Community College than at College of the Desert (about $1,438 more per year; $11,612.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Coastline Community College (88% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 25.1% larger than aid received by Coastline Community College students ($6,822 vs. $5,455).

Coastline Community College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline 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 Coastline Community College.

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

Coastline Community College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline 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 Coastline Community College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have a $88 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($5,250 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($54 vs. $55).
• More Coastline Community College 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.