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SMC Harbor College Long Beach City College Pasadena City College West Los Angeles College Cerritos College CMC Orange Coast College SBCC El Camino College-Compton Center Los Angeles Southwest College Mt. San Jacinto CCD| College of the Desert | El Camino Community College District | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
| Location | Palm Desert, CA | Torrance, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 10,382 | 19,944 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | collegeofthedesert.edu | elcamino.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,100 | $7,944 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $17,784 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,704 | $6,090 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,758 | $8,529 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 70% |
Admission |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 27, 2025 |
Academics |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 26:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,100 | $36,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 35% | 25% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $5,338 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $55 | N/A |
Diversity |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 20% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 68% | 51% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 0% | ||
Campus |
College of the Desert | ECC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- El Camino Community College District is larger than than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (19,944 students vs. 10,382 students)
College of the Desert vs. ECC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or ECC?
- College of the Desert is 16.7% more expensive to attend than ECC for in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.6% higher at College of the Desert than El Camino Community College District ($9,100.00 vs. $7,944.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at El Camino Community College District than College of the Desert ($6,090 vs. $13,704)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at El Camino Community College District are 0% lower than costs at College of the Desert ($17,784 vs. $17,784)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Desert than El Camino Community College District (85% vs. 70%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by El Camino Community College District students is 26.2% larger than aid received College of the Desert ($8,529 vs. $6,758)
Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or ECC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ECC or College of the Desert .
College of the Desert vs. ECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, College of the Desert or ECC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ECC and College of the Desert.
- Graduates from El Camino Community College District earn on average $1,300 more per year than College of the Desert graduates after ten years. ($36,400 vs. $35,100)
- More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 25%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/