College of the Desert vs. Lassen Community College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Lassen Community College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 2,038 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Lassen Community College is in Susanville, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lassen Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Lassen Community College 16:1.

College of the Desert vs. Lassen Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Lassen Community 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 Lassen Community College than College of the Desert ($12,406 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lassen Community College are 44.6% lower than at College of the Desert ($13,924 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lassen Community College (about $182 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,144.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at College of the Desert than at Lassen Community College (about $894 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,280.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Lassen Community College (88% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Lassen Community College students ($6,822 vs. $6,692).

College of the Desert vs. Lassen Community College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Lassen Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Lassen Community 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 $3,400 more per year than Lassen Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lassen Community College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 23%)

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.