College of the Desert vs. Shasta College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Shasta College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,073 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Shasta College is in Redding, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shasta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Shasta College 28:1.

College of the Desert vs. Shasta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Shasta 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 Shasta College than College of the Desert ($7,289 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shasta College are 37% lower than at College of the Desert ($15,844 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shasta College (about $129 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,197.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at College of the Desert than at Shasta College (about $1,321 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,853.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shasta College than at College of the Desert (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Shasta College students is 10.3% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,528 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Shasta College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Shasta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Shasta 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 $3,000 more per year than Shasta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $3,628 lower median loan debt than Shasta College graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,966).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shasta College graduates ($55 vs. $92).
• More Shasta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.