College of the Desert vs. Monterey Peninsula College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 7,173 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Desert vs. Monterey Peninsula College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College than College of the Desert ($14,483 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 28.4% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($25,151 vs. $35,118).
• College of the Desert is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Monterey Peninsula College (about $138 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,188.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Monterey Peninsula College than at College of the Desert (about $398 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Monterey Peninsula College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 34.1% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($6,822 vs. $5,088).

College of the Desert vs. Monterey Peninsula College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula 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; Monterey Peninsula College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. Monterey Peninsula College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,900 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 31%)

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.