College of the Desert vs. ECC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with El Camino Community College District in Torrance, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

El Camino Community College District is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (21,664 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); El Camino Community College District is in Torrance, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. El Camino Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; El Camino Community College District 28:1.

College of the Desert vs. ECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or ECC? 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 El Camino Community College District than College of the Desert ($8,837 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at El Camino Community College District are 22.7% lower than at College of the Desert ($19,431 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $182 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,144.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at College of the Desert than at El Camino Community College District (about $2,544 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $7,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at El Camino Community College District (88% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by El Camino Community College District students is 1.1% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($6,896 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. ECC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or ECC? 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 ECC 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; ECC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: ECC Aug 27, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. ECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and ECC? 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 El Camino Community College District earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.