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Mt. SAC East Los Angeles College Cerritos College Pasadena City College Fullerton College Citrus College Long Beach City College Cypress College CMC GCC Chaffey College SAC| College of the Desert | Rio Hondo College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
| Location | Palm Desert, CA | Whittier, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 10,382 | 16,139 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | collegeofthedesert.edu | riohondo.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,316 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,100 | $9,812 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $17,782 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,704 | $6,099 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,758 | $5,037 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 80% |
Admission |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 20, 2025 |
Academics |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 26:1 | 29:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,100 | $38,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 35% | 34% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $5,338 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $55 | N/A |
Diversity |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 58% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 42% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 20% | 8% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 68% | 77% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 0% | ||
Campus |
College of the Desert | RHC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Rio Hondo College is larger than than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (16,139 students vs. 10,382 students)
College of the Desert vs. RHC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or RHC?
- Rio Hondo College is 2.2% more expensive to attend than College of the Desert for in-state tuition ($1,316.00 vs. $1,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at RHC than College of the Desert ($9,812.00 vs. $9,100.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rio Hondo College than College of the Desert ($6,099 vs. $13,704)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 0% lower than costs at College of the Desert ($17,782 vs. $17,784)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Desert than Rio Hondo College (85% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 34.2% larger than aid received Rio Hondo College ($6,758 vs. $5,037)
Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or RHC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RHC or College of the Desert .
College of the Desert vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, College of the Desert or RHC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RHC and College of the Desert.
- Graduates from Rio Hondo College earn on average $3,400 more per year than College of the Desert graduates after ten years. ($38,500 vs. $35,100)
- 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/