College of the Desert vs. College of Marin

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than College of Marin based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); College of Marin is in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; College of Marin 17:1.

College of the Desert vs. College of Marin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or College of Marin? 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 College of Marin than College of the Desert ($14,662 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Marin are 2% lower than at College of the Desert ($24,645 vs. $25,151).
• College of Marin is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $232 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at College of the Desert than at College of Marin (about $840 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at College of Marin (88% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 11.5% larger than aid received by College of Marin students ($6,822 vs. $6,117).

College of the Desert vs. College of Marin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or College of Marin? 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 Marin and College of the Desert.

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

College of the Desert vs. College of Marin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and College of Marin? 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 Marin earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $9,037 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($5,338 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($55 vs. $148).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 29%)

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.