College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Los Angeles Trade Technical College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 12,519 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Los Angeles Trade Technical College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Los Angeles Trade Technical College 26:1.

College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles Trade Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College than College of the Desert ($13,154 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 Trade Technical College ($25,151 vs. $25,407).
• College of the Desert is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Trade Technical College (about $88 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 1.1% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Trade Technical College students ($6,822 vs. $6,746).

College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles Trade Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical 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 Trade Technical College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Trade Technical College Sep 7, 2026.

College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles Trade Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 $2,800 more per year than Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $37 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates ($5,338 vs. $5,375).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Los Angeles Trade Technical College and College of the Desert graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($55 vs. $55).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Trade Technical College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 26%)

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.