Cuyamaca College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuyamaca 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: Cuyamaca College 28:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than College of the Desert ($7,752 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• Cuyamaca College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $20 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Cuyamaca College than at College of the Desert (about $1,140 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Cuyamaca College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($8,246 vs. $6,822).

Cuyamaca College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

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

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

Cuyamaca College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 $3,200 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($46 vs. $55).
• More Cuyamaca 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.