College of the Desert vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (21,730 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); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

College of the Desert vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Riverside 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 Riverside City College than College of the Desert ($10,174 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 5.9% lower than at Riverside City College ($25,151 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $102 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at Riverside City College than at College of the Desert (about $2,324 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Riverside City College (88% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,822 vs. $6,463).

College of the Desert vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Riverside 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 Riverside 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; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

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

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Riverside 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $900 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,662 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($55 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.