College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles City College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (14,611 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); Los Angeles City College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Los Angeles City College 30:1.

College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles City College than College of the Desert ($11,836 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 1% lower than at Los Angeles City College ($25,151 vs. $25,407).
• College of the Desert is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles City College (about $88 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Los Angeles City College than at College of the Desert (about $398 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Los Angeles City College (88% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 2.5% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($6,994 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles City College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Los Angeles 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 $2,100 more per year than Los Angeles City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $4,631 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles City College graduates ($5,338 vs. $9,969).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Los Angeles City College graduates ($55 vs. $103).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles City College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

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.