College of the Desert vs. Fresno City College

Comparable Facts

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

Fresno City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (28,071 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); Fresno City College is in Fresno, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Fresno City College 29:1.

College of the Desert vs. Fresno City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Fresno City 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 Fresno City College than College of the Desert ($9,618 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 28.5% lower than at College of the Desert ($17,982 vs. $25,151).
• Fresno City College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $8 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at College of the Desert than at Fresno City College (about $20 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $10,154.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at College of the Desert (92% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,210 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Fresno City College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Fresno City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Fresno City 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 $3,400 more per year than Fresno City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $1,493 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($3,845 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($39 vs. $55).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno City College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 32%)

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.