College of the Desert vs. Napa Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Napa Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 4,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Napa Valley College is in Napa, CA (Small City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Napa Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Napa Valley College 21:1.

College of the Desert vs. Napa Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Napa 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 College of the Desert than Napa Valley College ($18,169 vs. $19,587).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Napa Valley College are 10.1% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,599 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Napa Valley College (about $170 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at Napa Valley College than at College of the Desert (about $1,734 more per year; $11,908.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert as at Napa Valley College (88% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 73.7% larger than aid received by Napa Valley College students ($6,822 vs. $3,927).

College of the Desert vs. Napa Valley College Admissions comparison

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

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

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

• Graduates from Napa Valley College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,162 lower median loan debt than Napa Valley College graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Napa Valley College graduates ($55 vs. $77).
• More Napa Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.