College of the Desert vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

College of the Desert vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than College of the Desert ($8,669 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Las Positas College are 8.3% lower than at College of the Desert ($23,076 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $158 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at College of the Desert than at Las Positas College (about $366 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Las Positas College (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 77.7% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($6,822 vs. $3,839).

College of the Desert vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Las Positas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.