College of the Desert vs. Feather River College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Feather River College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 2,055 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Feather River Community College District is in Quincy, CA (Remote Rural setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Feather River Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Feather River Community College District 17:1.

College of the Desert vs. Feather River College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Feather River 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 Feather River Community College District than College of the Desert ($13,941 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Feather River Community College District are 48% lower than at College of the Desert ($13,078 vs. $25,151).
• Feather River Community College District is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $139 more per year; $1,465.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at Feather River College than at College of the Desert (about $261 more per year; $10,435.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Feather River Community College District (88% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Feather River Community College District students ($6,822 vs. $6,424).

College of the Desert vs. Feather River College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Feather River College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Feather River 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 $4,700 more per year than Feather River College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $4,726 lower median loan debt than Feather River College graduates ($5,338 vs. $10,064).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Feather River College graduates ($55 vs. $104).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Feather River College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 23%)

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.