College of the Desert vs. FLC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Folsom Lake College in Folsom, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Desert is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 11,098 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Folsom Lake College is in Folsom, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Folsom Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Folsom Lake College 29:1.

College of the Desert vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or FLC? 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 Folsom Lake College than College of the Desert ($8,982 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Folsom Lake College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than FLC (about $38 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at FLC than at College of the Desert (about $2,442 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Folsom Lake College (88% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 91.1% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($6,822 vs. $3,570).

College of the Desert vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or FLC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between FLC 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; FLC - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and FLC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from College of the Desert have median earnings of about $35,100 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for FLC.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,412 lower median loan debt than FLC graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,750).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FLC graduates ($55 vs. $80).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FLC students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

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.