College of the Desert vs. Golden West College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Golden West College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 10,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Golden West College is in Huntington Beach, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Golden West College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Golden West College 29:1.

College of the Desert vs. Golden West College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Golden West 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 Golden West College than College of the Desert ($6,681 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Golden West College are 5.9% lower than at College of the Desert ($23,659 vs. $25,151).
• Golden West College is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $54 more per year; $1,380.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Golden West College than at College of the Desert (about $1,454 more per year; $11,628.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Golden West College (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Golden West College students is 0.4% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($6,849 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Golden West College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Golden West College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Golden West 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 Golden West College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $146 lower median loan debt than Golden West College graduates ($5,338 vs. $5,484).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Golden West College graduates ($55 vs. $56).
• More Golden West College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.