College of the Desert vs. San Bernardino Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

San Bernardino Valley College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (14,055 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); San Bernardino Valley College is in San Bernardino, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Bernardino Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; San Bernardino Valley College 25:1.

College of the Desert vs. San Bernardino Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or San Bernardino Valley 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 College of the Desert than San Bernardino Valley College ($18,169 vs. $19,091).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Bernardino Valley College are 20.5% lower than at College of the Desert ($20,000 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Bernardino Valley College (about $130 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,196.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.4% higher at San Bernardino Valley College than at College of the Desert (about $4,208 more per year; $14,382.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at San Bernardino Valley College (88% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 82.7% larger than aid received by San Bernardino Valley College students ($6,822 vs. $3,735).

College of the Desert vs. San Bernardino Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or San Bernardino Valley 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 San Bernardino Valley 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; San Bernardino Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Bernardino Valley College Aug 29, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. San Bernardino Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and San Bernardino Valley 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 $3,200 more per year than San Bernardino Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Bernardino Valley College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 28%)

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.