College of the Desert vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (20,986 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); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

College of the Desert vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College than College of the Desert ($15,148 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 5% lower than at College of the Desert ($23,897 vs. $25,151).
• Southwestern College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $18 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Southwestern College than at College of the Desert (about $466 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Southwestern College (88% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 0% larger than aid received by Southwestern College students ($6,822 vs. $6,821).

College of the Desert vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Southwestern 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 $1,000 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($46 vs. $55).
• More Southwestern 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.