College of the Desert vs. Moorpark College

Comparable Facts

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

Moorpark College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (14,583 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Moorpark College is in Moorpark, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Moorpark College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Moorpark College 31:1.

College of the Desert vs. Moorpark College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Moorpark 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 Moorpark College than College of the Desert ($2,727 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Moorpark College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Moorpark College is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $100 more per year; $1,426.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Moorpark College (about $559 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,615.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Moorpark College (88% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 46.6% larger than aid received by Moorpark College students ($6,822 vs. $4,653).

College of the Desert vs. Moorpark College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Moorpark College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Moorpark 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 Moorpark College earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 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 Moorpark 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 Moorpark College graduates ($55 vs. $118).
• More Moorpark College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.