College of the Desert vs. Ohlone College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Ohlone College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,061 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Desert vs. Ohlone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Ohlone 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 Ohlone College ($18,169 vs. $18,639).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohlone College are 12.1% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,104 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohlone College (about $124 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,202.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Ohlone College (about $1,460 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,714.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Ohlone College (88% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 41% larger than aid received by Ohlone College students ($6,822 vs. $4,840).

College of the Desert vs. Ohlone College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Ohlone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Ohlone 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 Ohlone College earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Ohlone 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.