College of the Desert vs. Evergreen Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Desert is larger than Evergreen Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Evergreen Valley College is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Evergreen Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Evergreen Valley College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. Evergreen Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Evergreen Valley 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 Evergreen Valley College than College of the Desert ($15,186 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Evergreen Valley College are 27.9% lower than at College of the Desert ($18,126 vs. $25,151).
• Evergreen Valley College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $40 more per year; $1,366.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at College of the Desert than at Evergreen Valley College (about $1,456 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,718.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Evergreen Valley College (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 13.6% larger than aid received by Evergreen Valley College students ($6,822 vs. $6,005).

College of the Desert vs. Evergreen Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Evergreen Valley 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 Evergreen Valley 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; Evergreen Valley College - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. Evergreen Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Evergreen Valley 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 Evergreen Valley College earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,012 lower median loan debt than Evergreen Valley College graduates ($5,338 vs. $10,350).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Evergreen Valley College graduates ($55 vs. $107).
• More Evergreen Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.