At a glance
Average net price
$15,728
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
31.1%
Admission rate
Not available
Undergrad size
10,207
In-state tuition
$1,326
Out-of-state tuition
$10,174
Cost of attendance
$24,607
Median earnings (10y)
$39,020
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- Not available
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
32 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by humanities & arts (34%), social sciences (27%), trades & services (11%).
- STEM10%
- Health11%
- Business7%
- Humanities & arts34%
- Social sciences27%
- Trades & services11%
- Liberal arts29.2%~2,985 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Education11.3%~1,158 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Health professions11.0%~1,123 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- ~999 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Business6.8%~694 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Engineering tech6.6%~677 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~381 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Psychology3.3%~337 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~267 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Social sciences2.2%~227 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Agriculture1.8%~188 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Computer science1.8%~186 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~161 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~122 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~111 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Communication0.9%~94 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~82 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- English0.6%~65 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~53 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~51 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~48 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~41 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History0.4%~41 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics0.3%~27 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~19 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~17 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Architecture0.2%~17 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Engineering0.1%~9 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~9 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~7 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Legal0.1%~5 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~5 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Undergraduate certificate | 1,491 | — | — |
| Psychology, General. | Associate's | 323 | $16,835 | $5,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate's | 307 | $22,771 | $5,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate's | 277 | $22,277 | $6,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Undergraduate certificate | 244 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | Associate's | 241 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate's | 151 | $20,301 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate's | 147 | $79,088 | $13,806 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Associate's | 114 | — | — |
| Sociology. | Associate's | 106 | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians. | Undergraduate certificate | 99 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Associate's | 66 | — | — |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | Associate's | 63 | — | — |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. | Undergraduate certificate | 53 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Associate's | 49 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Associate's | 45 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government. | Associate's | 43 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Associate's | 42 | — | — |
| History. | Associate's | 40 | — | — |
| Computer Science. | Associate's | 37 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Associate's | 37 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Associate's | 35 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Associate's | 35 | — | — |
| Biology, General. | Associate's | 34 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Associate's | 26 | — | — |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | Associate's | 24 | — | — |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. | Associate's | 23 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Undergraduate certificate | 23 | — | — |
| Fire Protection. | Associate's | 22 | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. | Undergraduate certificate | 22 | — | — |
| Mathematics. | Associate's | 21 | — | — |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate's | 21 | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. | Undergraduate certificate | 21 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. | Associate's | 20 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Undergraduate certificate | 20 | — | — |
| Fire Protection. | Undergraduate certificate | 19 | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. | Associate's | 19 | — | — |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Undergraduate certificate | 17 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Associate's | 16 | — | — |
| Chemistry. | Associate's | 15 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About College of the Desert
College of the Desert is a large institution located in Palm Desert, California, primarily awarding the certificate. It enrolls roughly 10,207 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Liberal arts, Education, Health professions.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at College of the Desert — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $15,728 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $1,326 for in-state students and $10,174 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $24,607 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 31.1%, a average completion outcome. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $39,020 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
College of the Desert confers degrees and certificates across 32 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Liberal arts, Education, Health professions. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by humanities & arts (34% of credentials), social sciences (27% of credentials), trades & services (11% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Admission rate data is not reported for this institution, which is typical for open-admission community and trade schools.
Location & campus
Set in Palm Desert, California (city), College of the Desert draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about College of the Desert
Q.How much does College of the Desert cost?
The average net price at College of the Desert is $15,728 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $24,607.
Q.What is the graduation rate at College of the Desert?
College of the Desert has a 6-year graduation rate of 31.1% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How much do College of the Desert graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median College of the Desert graduate earns $39,020 per year.
Q.What is tuition at College of the Desert?
Published tuition is $1,326 in-state and $10,174 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is College of the Desert located?
College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, California (ZIP 92260).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with College of the Desert at their official website.