College of the Desert vs. East Los Angeles College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); East Los Angeles College is in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. East Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; East Los Angeles College 33:1.

College of the Desert vs. East Los Angeles College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or East Los Angeles College? 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 East Los Angeles College than College of the Desert ($11,700 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 1% lower than at East Los Angeles College ($25,151 vs. $25,407).
• College of the Desert is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than East Los Angeles College (about $88 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at East Los Angeles College than at College of the Desert (about $398 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at East Los Angeles College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Los Angeles College students is 4% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,098 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. East Los Angeles College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or East Los Angeles College? 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 East Los Angeles College 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; East Los Angeles College - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. East Los Angeles College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and East Los Angeles College? 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 $700 more per year than East Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $478 lower median loan debt than East Los Angeles College graduates ($5,338 vs. $5,816).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than East Los Angeles College graduates ($55 vs. $60).
• More East Los Angeles 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.