College of the Desert vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Merced College 28:1.

College of the Desert vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Merced 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 Merced College than College of the Desert ($6,854 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 22.7% lower than at College of the Desert ($19,432 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $126 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at College of the Desert than at Merced College (about $1,654 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert as at Merced College (88% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,480 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Merced 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 $4,800 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.