College of the Desert vs. Foothill College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (12,949 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); Foothill College is in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Foothill College 26:1.

College of the Desert vs. Foothill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Foothill 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 Foothill College than College of the Desert ($10,805 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 17.3% lower than at College of the Desert ($20,793 vs. $25,151).
• Foothill College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $239 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at Foothill College than at College of the Desert (about $2,416 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Foothill College (88% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 61.5% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,822 vs. $4,223).

College of the Desert vs. Foothill College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Foothill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $3,634 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($55 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.