College of the Desert vs. Moreno Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Moreno Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 11,920 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Moreno Valley College is in Moreno Valley, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Moreno Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Moreno Valley College 29:1.

College of the Desert vs. Moreno Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley College than College of the Desert ($9,780 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 5.9% lower than at Moreno Valley College ($25,151 vs. $26,740).
• Moreno Valley College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $102 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at Moreno Valley College than at College of the Desert (about $2,324 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Moreno Valley College (88% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Moreno Valley College students ($6,822 vs. $6,570).

College of the Desert vs. Moreno Valley College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Moreno Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Moreno Valley 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,162 lower median loan debt than Moreno Valley College graduates ($5,338 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Moreno Valley College graduates ($55 vs. $108).
• More Moreno Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.