College of the Desert vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Solano Community College is in Fairfield, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Solano Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Solano Community College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Solano 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 Solano Community College than College of the Desert ($7,102 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Solano Community College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Solano College (about $154 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at College of the Desert than at Solano Community College (about $362 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Solano Community College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 49% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($6,822 vs. $4,579).

College of the Desert vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Solano 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 Solano Community College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,100 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $4,465 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($5,338 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($55 vs. $101).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 27%)

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.