College of the Desert vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

College of the Desert vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College than College of the Desert ($9,044 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 26.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,151 vs. $34,328).
• College of the Desert is 14.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $168 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at College of the Desert than at MiraCosta College (about $424 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at MiraCosta College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 36.1% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,822 vs. $5,013).

College of the Desert vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and MiraCosta 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 $2,100 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($46 vs. $55).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.