College of the Desert
- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,020 C-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,728 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 10,207
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 16.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.6 over 20 years. Net gain: $982,385.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.21% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of the Desert Matters
College of the Desert is a public college in Palm Desert, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 10,207
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose College of the Desert
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,728 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,020 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 8% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.98 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At College of the Desert, nearly 40% of students receive Pell Grants, highlighting the school’s commitment to accessibility for low-income learners. This financial support can significantly ease the burden of college expenses for many students, making education more attainable in the Palm Desert area.
Graduates from College of the Desert earn a median salary of $39,020 a decade after enrolling. While the graduation rate stands at 30%, the school plays a crucial role in elevating students who may come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Although specific mobility and success rates are unavailable, the data suggests that the college serves as a stepping stone for many local residents seeking better opportunities.
With a net price of $15,728, students can expect a manageable cost for their education. This may appeal to those looking to enter fields like Humanities, Education, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, or Criminal Justice. Students who thrive here are likely those who take advantage of available financial aid and are motivated to navigate the challenges of completing their degrees.
Can I Get In?
How selective College of the Desert is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Desert? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of the Desert, located in Palm Desert, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 27%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,882
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 26:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.43
- First-Gen Students
- 62%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Desert? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Desert is $10,174, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,728. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,872 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,326
- Out-of-State
- $10,174
- Avg Net Price
- $15,728
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,872
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,071
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,137
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,969
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at College of the Desert — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of the Desert Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Desert report median earnings of $39,020, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,085
- 8 Years
- $34,631
- 10 Years
- $39,020
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (197)
- 12%
- 100% (197)
- 12%
- 100% (197)
- 12%
- 100% (197)
- 12%
How College Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is College of the Desert Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of the Desert delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,728/year ($62,912 total). Graduates earn $39,020 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,045,297 in total earnings — a net gain of $982,385 (16.6× your investment).. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $62,912
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,045,297
- Net Return
- $982,385
- ROI Multiple
- 16.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,728
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does College of the Desert Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Desert is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.21%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $44,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.21%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 24.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $61,003
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields College of the Desert awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 47%
- Health Professions 10% $87,268 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $36,132 early-career
- Psychology 5% $20,003 early-career
- Social Sciences 4%
- Criminal Justice 3% $44,210 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of the Desert's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Desert? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of the Desert, located in Palm Desert, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Desert? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Desert is $10,174, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,728. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,872 after need-based grants.
Is College of the Desert Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Desert report median earnings of $39,020, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does College of the Desert Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Desert is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.21%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $44,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College of the Desert? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at College of the Desert. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of the Desert.
- Texas State Technical CollegeWaco, TX · Close peer41% grad $38,916 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer31% grad $35,233 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Merced CollegeMerced, CA · Close peer32% grad $37,815 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · Close peer37% grad $41,018 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis, MN · Close peer18% grad $40,086 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Close peer29% grad $34,581 earnWhy: similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of the Desert? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at College of the Desert. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note