College of the Desert vs. College of the Redwoods

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than College of the Redwoods based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 4,706 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Desert vs. College of the Redwoods Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or College of the Redwoods? 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 the Redwoods than College of the Desert ($9,400 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Redwoods are 51.8% lower than at College of the Desert ($12,117 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Redwoods (about $128 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,198.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at College of the Desert than at College of the Redwoods (about $1,320 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,854.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Redwoods than at College of the Desert (90% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 8.5% larger than aid received by College of the Redwoods students ($6,822 vs. $6,288).

College of the Desert vs. College of the Redwoods Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or College of the Redwoods? 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 Redwoods 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 the Redwoods - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and College of the Redwoods? 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 $3,000 more per year than College of the Redwoods graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $1,923 lower median loan debt than College of the Redwoods graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,261).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Redwoods graduates ($55 vs. $75).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Redwoods students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

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.