Cuesta College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, 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 Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuesta 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: Cuesta College 27:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Cuesta College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College than College of the Desert ($16,541 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Cuesta College is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $24 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Cuesta College than at College of the Desert (about $836 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Cuesta College (88% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 64.7% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,822 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuesta College - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,912 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($5,338 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($55 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.