College of the Desert vs. Mendocino College

College of the Desert and Mendocino College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

College of the Desert
Mendocino College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Mendocino College. Average net price is $9,798 vs $18,169 at College of the Desert.
  • Earnings 10 years out: College of the Desert $35,100 vs Mendocino College $29,400 (median).
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Key differences

College of the Desert Mendocino College
Acceptance rate
College of the Desert-
Mendocino College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
College of the Desert-
Mendocino College-
Average net price
Mendocino College $8,371 less
College of the Desert$18,169
Mendocino College$9,798
In-state tuition
College of the Desert $97 less
College of the Desert$1,326
Mendocino College$1,423
Out-of-state tuition
Mendocino College $171 less
College of the Desert$10,174
Mendocino College$10,003
Graduation rate
College of the Desert-
Mendocino College-
Median earnings (10 years)
College of the Desert +$5,700
College of the Desert$35,100
Mendocino College$29,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • College of the Desert -
  • Mendocino College -
  • Admitted
  • College of the Desert -
  • Mendocino College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Mendocino College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Mendocino College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College
  • Average high school GPA
  • College of the Desert -
  • Mendocino College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • College of the Desert -
  • Mendocino College -
  • Admissions standards
  • College of the Desert Unavailable
  • Mendocino College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College
  • SAT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College
  • ACT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College
  • Submit test scores
  • College of the Desert Open admission
  • Mendocino College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • College of the Desert $1,326
  • Mendocino College $1,423
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • College of the Desert $10,174
  • Mendocino College $10,003
  • Room & board
  • College of the Desert $25,151
  • Mendocino College $16,580
  • Average net price
  • College of the Desert $18,169
  • Mendocino College $9,798
  • Average grant aid
  • College of the Desert $6,822
  • Mendocino College $7,180
  • % receiving grant aid
  • College of the Desert 88%
  • Mendocino College 84%
  • Graduation rate
  • College of the Desert -
  • Mendocino College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • College of the Desert $35,100
  • Mendocino College $29,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • College of the Desert 35%
  • Mendocino College 30%
  • Median student loan debt
  • College of the Desert $5,338
  • Mendocino College $13,000
  • Median loan payment
  • College of the Desert $55
  • Mendocino College $134
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • College of the Desert 26:1
  • Mendocino College 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • College of the Desert
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (10%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Mendocino College
    • Business (21%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
  • Mendocino College Ukiah, CA
  • Setting
  • College of the Desert Small City
  • Mendocino College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • College of the Desert 12,861
  • Mendocino College 4,225
  • Type
  • College of the Desert Public 2 Year
  • Mendocino College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • College of the Desert
  • Mendocino College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Mendocino College in Ukiah, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

College of the Desert is larger than Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Mendocino College is in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Mendocino College 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 34.1% lower than at College of the Desert ($16,580 vs. $25,151).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at College of the Desert than at Mendocino College (about $171 more per year; $10,174 vs. $10,003).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Mendocino College (88% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 5.2% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,180 vs. $6,822).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both College of the Desert and Mendocino College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $7,662 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($5,338 vs. $13,000).
  • Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($55 vs. $134).
  • More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation (35% vs. 30%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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