College of the Desert vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (24,597 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); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

College of the Desert vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than College of the Desert ($6,888 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 22.7% lower than at College of the Desert ($19,431 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $146 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at College of the Desert than at Pasadena City College (about $354 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Pasadena City College (88% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Pasadena City College students ($6,822 vs. $6,759).

College of the Desert vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $162 lower median loan debt than Pasadena City College graduates ($5,338 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pasadena City College graduates ($55 vs. $56).
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.