College of the Desert vs. Delta

Comparable Facts

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

San Joaquin Delta College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (20,969 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 Joaquin Delta College is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Delta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; San Joaquin Delta College 45:1.

College of the Desert vs. Delta Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Delta? 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 Joaquin Delta College than College of the Desert ($3,293 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Delta College are 14.1% lower than at College of the Desert ($21,600 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Delta (about $146 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at College of the Desert than at San Joaquin Delta College (about $402 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at San Joaquin Delta College (88% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 8.1% larger than aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students ($6,822 vs. $6,311).

College of the Desert vs. Delta Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Delta? 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 Delta 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; Delta - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. Delta Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Delta? 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 $200 more per year than Delta graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $1,662 lower median loan debt than Delta graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Delta graduates ($55 vs. $72).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delta students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 24%)

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.