College of the Desert vs. Pierce College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Pierce College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (16,906 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 Pierce College is in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1.

College of the Desert vs. Pierce College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Pierce 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 Pierce College than College of the Desert ($14,469 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 Pierce College ($25,151 vs. $25,407).
• College of the Desert is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College (about $88 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Pierce 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 Pierce College (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students ($6,822 vs. $6,398).

College of the Desert vs. Pierce College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Pierce 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 Pierce 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; Pierce College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. Pierce College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $35,100), 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 Pierce 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 Pierce College graduates ($55 vs. $108).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce 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.