College of the Desert vs. LMC

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than LMC based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Los Medanos College is in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Medanos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Los Medanos College 23:1.

College of the Desert vs. LMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or LMC? 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 Medanos College than College of the Desert ($9,860 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Medanos College are 7.6% lower than at College of the Desert ($23,238 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $14 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at LMC than at College of the Desert (about $146 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Los Medanos College (88% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 33.5% larger than aid received by Los Medanos College students ($6,822 vs. $5,109).

College of the Desert vs. LMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or LMC? 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 LMC 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; LMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. LMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and LMC? 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 Medanos College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,700 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More LMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.