College of the Desert vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (17,096 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); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than College of the Desert ($9,116 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 23.8% lower than at College of the Desert ($19,159 vs. $25,151).
• Orange Coast College is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $66 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Orange Coast College than at College of the Desert (about $1,466 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Orange Coast College (88% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,822 vs. $5,493).

College of the Desert vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $1,162 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($5,338 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($55 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.