College of the Desert vs. Reedley College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Reedley College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 8,796 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Reedley College is in Reedley, CA (Distant Town setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Reedley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Reedley College 23:1.

College of the Desert vs. Reedley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Reedley 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 Reedley College than College of the Desert ($9,012 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reedley College are 71.8% lower than at College of the Desert ($7,100 vs. $25,151).
• Reedley College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $8 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at College of the Desert than at Reedley College (about $20 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $10,154.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reedley College than at College of the Desert (94% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Reedley College students is 10.8% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,561 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Reedley College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Reedley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Reedley 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 $5,700 more per year than Reedley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Reedley 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.