College of the Desert vs. RHC

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Hondo College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (17,441 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); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

College of the Desert vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or RHC? 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 Rio Hondo College than College of the Desert ($16,449 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Rio Hondo College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $62 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at College of the Desert than at Rio Hondo College (about $290 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Rio Hondo College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($6,822 vs. $5,049).

College of the Desert vs. RHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or RHC? 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 RHC 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; RHC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and RHC? 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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 34%)

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.