College of the Desert vs. Ventura College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Ventura College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 12,222 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Desert vs. Ventura College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Ventura 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 Ventura College than College of the Desert ($2,522 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ventura College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Ventura College is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $100 more per year; $1,426.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Ventura College (about $559 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,615.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ventura College than at College of the Desert (91% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 7% larger than aid received by Ventura College students ($6,822 vs. $6,376).

College of the Desert vs. Ventura College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Desert vs. Ventura College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Ventura 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 Ventura College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,162 lower median loan debt than Ventura College graduates ($5,338 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ventura College graduates ($55 vs. $108).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ventura College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

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.