College of the Desert vs. Long Beach City College

Comparable Facts

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

Long Beach City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (24,985 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); Long Beach City College is in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Long Beach City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Long Beach City College 29:1.

College of the Desert vs. Long Beach City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College than College of the Desert ($7,565 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Long Beach City College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Long Beach City College is 17.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $230 more per year; $1,556.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.3% higher at Long Beach City College than at College of the Desert (about $2,370 more per year; $12,544.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Long Beach City College than at College of the Desert (91% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Long Beach City College students ($6,822 vs. $6,299).

College of the Desert vs. Long Beach City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City 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; Long Beach City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Long Beach City College Aug 17, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. Long Beach City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Long Beach City 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 $2,300 more per year than Long Beach City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Long Beach City College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 24%)

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.