College of the Desert vs. Palo Verde College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Palo Verde College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 3,833 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Palo Verde College is in Blythe, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Verde College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Palo Verde College 22:1.

College of the Desert vs. Palo Verde College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College ($18,169 vs. $22,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 2.4% lower than at Palo Verde College ($25,151 vs. $25,767).
• College of the Desert is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Verde College (about $38 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.6% higher at Palo Verde College than at College of the Desert (about $2,706 more per year; $12,880.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Verde College than at College of the Desert (92% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 119.3% larger than aid received by Palo Verde College students ($6,822 vs. $3,111).

College of the Desert vs. Palo Verde College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Palo Verde College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Palo Verde 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 College of the Desert earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Palo Verde College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $29,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.