College of the Desert vs. Laney College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Laney College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,328 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Laney College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Laney College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Laney College 31:1.

College of the Desert vs. Laney College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Laney 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 Laney College than College of the Desert ($17,741 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laney College are 9.3% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,820 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laney College (about $68 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Laney College (about $276 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Laney College (88% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 32.1% larger than aid received by Laney College students ($6,822 vs. $5,164).

College of the Desert vs. Laney College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Laney College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Laney 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 $800 more per year than Laney College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,162 lower median loan debt than Laney College graduates ($5,338 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laney College graduates ($55 vs. $108).
• More Laney College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.