College of the Desert vs. Irvine Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (13,018 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); Irvine Valley College is in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Irvine Valley College 31:1.

College of the Desert vs. Irvine Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than College of the Desert ($5,821 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 2.4% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($25,151 vs. $25,769).
• College of the Desert is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $170 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at Irvine Valley College than at College of the Desert (about $1,686 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Irvine Valley College (88% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 6.3% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,254 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Irvine Valley College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Irvine Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $662 lower median loan debt than Irvine Valley College graduates ($5,338 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Irvine Valley College graduates ($55 vs. $62).
• More Irvine Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.