College of the Desert vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Merritt College 33:1.

College of the Desert vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Merritt 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 Merritt College than College of the Desert ($15,581 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 9.3% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,820 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $68 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Merritt College (about $276 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Merritt College (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 37.2% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,822 vs. $4,972).

College of the Desert vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Merritt 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 Merritt College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $6,162 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($5,338 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($55 vs. $118).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 27%)

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.