College of the Desert vs. Mt. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Antonio College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (29,971 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); Mt San Antonio College is in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mt San Antonio College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Mt San Antonio College 26:1.

College of the Desert vs. Mt. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Mt. SAC? 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 Mt San Antonio College than College of the Desert ($8,516 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 1.7% lower than at Mt San Antonio College ($25,151 vs. $25,587).
• Mt San Antonio College is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $38 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Mt. SAC than at College of the Desert (about $290 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Mt San Antonio College (88% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 1.3% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($6,911 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Mt. SAC Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Mt. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Mt. SAC? 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 Mt San Antonio College earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($46 vs. $55).
• More Mt. SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.