College of the Desert vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (19,550 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); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Palomar College 25:1.

College of the Desert vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Palomar 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 Palomar College than College of the Desert ($8,372 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 2.5% lower than at Palomar College ($25,151 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $28 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at Palomar College than at College of the Desert (about $476 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Palomar College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 37.2% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,822 vs. $4,972).

College of the Desert vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Palomar 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $1,662 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($55 vs. $72).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palomar College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 30%)

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.