College of the Desert vs. Fullerton College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (19,521 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); Fullerton College is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Fullerton College 25:1.

College of the Desert vs. Fullerton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than College of the Desert ($8,306 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $176 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.7% higher at Fullerton College than at College of the Desert (about $2,205 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Fullerton College (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($6,822 vs. $5,301).

College of the Desert vs. Fullerton College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Fullerton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Fullerton 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 Fullerton College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Fullerton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.