Compton College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Compton College in Compton, 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 Compton College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 5,225 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Compton College is located in Compton, CA (Small City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Compton 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: Compton College 17:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Compton College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Compton 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 Compton College than College of the Desert ($14,449 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Compton College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Compton College (about $184 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,142.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.3% higher at College of the Desert than at Compton College (about $1,352 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,822.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Compton College (88% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 8% larger than aid received by Compton College students ($6,822 vs. $6,316).

Compton College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

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

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

Compton College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Compton 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 Compton College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Compton College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 25%)

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.