College of the Desert vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (23,453 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 Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or SMC? 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 Monica College than College of the Desert ($5,685 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 2.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($25,151 vs. $25,908).
• College of the Desert is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $170 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at SMC than at College of the Desert (about $534 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Santa Monica College (88% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 23.1% larger than aid received by Santa Monica College students ($6,822 vs. $5,540).

College of the Desert vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

College of the Desert vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and SMC? 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 Monica College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $1,162 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($5,338 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($55 vs. $67).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.