CRC vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

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

Cosumnes River College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (15,744 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cosumnes River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Cosumnes River 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: Cosumnes River College 29:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

CRC vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CRC 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 Cosumnes River College than College of the Desert ($8,043 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cosumnes River College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CRC (about $38 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at CRC than at College of the Desert (about $2,442 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at College of the Desert (92% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 36% larger than aid received by Cosumnes River College students ($6,822 vs. $5,017).

CRC vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CRC 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 CRC.

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

CRC vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CRC 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 $3,300 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $4,162 lower median loan debt than CRC graduates ($5,338 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CRC graduates ($55 vs. $98).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CRC students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 28%)

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.