College of the Desert vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (13,242 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 Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

College of the Desert vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or San Diego 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 San Diego City College than College of the Desert ($10,040 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 19.5% lower than at San Diego City College ($25,151 vs. $31,243).
• College of the Desert is 15.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $180 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at College of the Desert than at San Diego City College (about $172 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at San Diego City College (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 53.9% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($10,500 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and San Diego 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 College of the Desert earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($46 vs. $55).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 30%)

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.