Columbia Junior College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 21:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College or College of the Desert? 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 Columbia College than College of the Desert ($12,358 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia Junior College (about $44 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,282.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Columbia College (about $910 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Columbia College (88% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 11.5% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($6,822 vs. $6,119).

Columbia Junior College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior College or College of the Desert? 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 College of the Desert and Columbia Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia Junior College - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.

Columbia Junior College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College and College of the Desert? 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 $4,700 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.