College of the Desert vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Sierra College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (19,125 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); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Sierra College 25:1.

College of the Desert vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Sierra 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 Sierra College than College of the Desert ($10,285 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 45.8% lower than at College of the Desert ($13,631 vs. $25,151).
• Sierra College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $120 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 603.6% higher at College of the Desert than at Sierra College (about $8,728 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Sierra College (88% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 36.3% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($6,822 vs. $5,006).

College of the Desert vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Sierra 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 Sierra College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,100 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 32%)

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.