College of the Desert vs. SAC

Deciding between College of the Desert and Santa Ana College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of the Desert

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
  • SAC Santa Ana, CA
  • Setting
  • College of the Desert Small City
  • SAC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • College of the Desert 12,861
  • SAC 27,248
  • Type
  • College of the Desert Public 2 Year
  • SAC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • College of the Desert -
  • SAC -
  • Status
  • College of the Desert Non-profit
  • SAC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • College of the Desert $1,326
  • SAC $1,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • College of the Desert $10,174
  • SAC $10,756
  • Room & Board
  • College of the Desert $25,151
  • SAC $22,126
  • Average Net Price
  • College of the Desert $18,169
  • SAC $5,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • College of the Desert $6,822
  • SAC $6,768
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • College of the Desert 88%
  • SAC 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • College of the Desert -
  • SAC -
  • Admitted
  • College of the Desert -
  • SAC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • College of the Desert Open
  • SAC Open
  • Enrolled
  • College of the Desert Open
  • SAC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC
  • Average High School GPA
  • College of the Desert -
  • SAC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • College of the Desert -
  • SAC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • College of the Desert Unavailable
  • SAC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC
  • ACT Range
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC
  • SAT Range
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • College of the Desert Open admission
  • SAC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • College of the Desert
  • SAC Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • College of the Desert 26:1
  • SAC 33:1
  • Popular Majors
  • College of the Desert
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (10%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • SAC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Work and Family Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • College of the Desert -
  • SAC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • College of the Desert $35,100
  • SAC $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • College of the Desert 35%
  • SAC 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • College of the Desert $5,338
  • SAC $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • College of the Desert $55
  • SAC $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • College of the Desert 43%
  • SAC 58%
  • % Women
  • College of the Desert 57%
  • SAC 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • College of the Desert Medium
  • SAC High
  • HBCU
  • College of the Desert No
  • SAC No
  • % White
  • College of the Desert 20%
  • SAC 21%
  • % Asian
  • College of the Desert 3%
  • SAC 8%
  • % Black
  • College of the Desert 3%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • College of the Desert 68%
  • SAC 50%
  • % Native American
  • College of the Desert 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • College of the Desert 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • College of the Desert 3%
  • SAC 1%
  • % International
  • College of the Desert 2%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • College of the Desert 1%
  • SAC 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • College of the Desert 98%
  • SAC 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • College of the Desert 1%
  • SAC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • College of the Desert No
  • SAC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • College of the Desert No
  • SAC No
  • Meal Plan
  • College of the Desert No
  • SAC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • College of the Desert Yes
  • SAC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • College of the Desert Yes
  • SAC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (27,248 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); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
  • College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

College of the Desert vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or SAC? 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 Santa Ana College than College of the Desert ($5,894 vs. $18,169).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 12% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,126 vs. $25,151).
  • College of the Desert is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $146 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at SAC than at College of the Desert (about $582 more per year; $10,756.00 vs. $10,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at College of the Desert (89% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Santa Ana College students ($6,822 vs. $6,768).

College of the Desert vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and SAC? 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 Santa Ana College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,162 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($5,338 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($55 vs. $77).
  • More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.