College of the Desert vs. Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Valley College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (15,999 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 Valley College is in Valley Glen, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Los Angeles Valley College 28:1.

College of the Desert vs. Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Valley 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 Valley College than College of the Desert ($13,550 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 Valley College ($25,151 vs. $25,407).
• College of the Desert is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Valley College (about $88 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Valley 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 Valley College (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 9.3% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Valley College students ($6,822 vs. $6,243).

College of the Desert vs. Valley College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Valley 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 Valley College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $3,162 lower median loan debt than Valley College graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valley College graduates ($55 vs. $87).
• More Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 35%)

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.