College of the Desert vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Jacinto Community College District is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (17,627 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 Jacinto Community College District is in San Jacinto, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Mt San Jacinto Community College District 32:1.

College of the Desert vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Mt. San Jacinto CCD? 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 Jacinto Community College District than College of the Desert ($8,449 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mt San Jacinto Community College District are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Mt San Jacinto Community College District is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $122 more per year; $1,448.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at Mt. San Jacinto CCD than at College of the Desert (about $2,554 more per year; $12,728.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Mt San Jacinto Community College District (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 33% larger than aid received by Mt San Jacinto Community College District students ($6,822 vs. $5,128).

College of the Desert vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Mt. San Jacinto CCD? 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. San Jacinto CCD 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. San Jacinto CCD - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Mt. San Jacinto CCD? 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 $2,200 more per year than Mt. San Jacinto CCD graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mt. San Jacinto CCD 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.