College of the Desert vs. Norco College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Norco College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 11,351 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Desert vs. Norco College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Norco 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 Norco College than College of the Desert ($8,534 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 5.9% lower than at Norco College ($25,151 vs. $26,740).
• Norco 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 Norco 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 Norco College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Norco College students ($6,822 vs. $5,343).

College of the Desert vs. Norco College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Norco College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Norco 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 $2,662 lower median loan debt than Norco College graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Norco College graduates ($55 vs. $82).
• More Norco 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.