College of the Desert vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

College of the Desert vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or SBCC? 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 Barbara City College than College of the Desert ($14,186 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $86 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at SBCC than at College of the Desert (about $258 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Santa Barbara City College (88% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,822 vs. $5,889).

College of the Desert vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and SBCC? 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 Barbara City College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $4,162 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($5,338 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($55 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.