College of the Desert vs. Skyline College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Skyline College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Skyline College is in San Bruno, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skyline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Skyline College 29:1.

College of the Desert vs. Skyline College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Skyline 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 Skyline College than College of the Desert ($6,639 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 19.6% lower than at Skyline College ($25,151 vs. $31,288).
• College of the Desert is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Skyline College (about $54 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,272.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at College of the Desert than at Skyline College (about $218 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,956.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Skyline College (88% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 57.2% larger than aid received by Skyline College students ($6,822 vs. $4,341).

College of the Desert vs. Skyline College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Skyline College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Skyline 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 Skyline College earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Skyline College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.