College of the Desert
Palm Desert, CA · Public · Associate degree-granting
Located in Palm Desert, California, College of the Desert is a public institution, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. With 10,207 students, it is a mid-size institution. Graduates earn a median of $39,020 ten years after enrollment, near the national median. On the academic side, the graduation rate is 30.0%. The average net price after financial aid is $15,728 per year. The most popular programs include Liberal Arts & Sciences, Psychology, Business Administration & Management, Health Services, and Human Development & Family Studies.
Key Outcomes
Median Earnings (10yr)
$39,020
Graduation Rate
30.0%
Median Debt
Not reported
Average Net Price
$15,728
Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
2.48x
Admissions & Enrollment
Total Enrollment
10,207
Admission Rate
Not reported
Average SAT
Not reported
Retention Rate
69.7%
Cost
In-State Tuition
$1,326
Out-of-State Tuition
$10,174
Pell Grant Rate
37.9%
Federal Loan Rate
1.0%
Net Cost by Family Income
Income $0–$30K
$14,872
Income $30K–$48K
$15,071
Income $48K–$75K
$17,137
Income $110K+
$21,969
Student Demographics
Women
55.9%
White
14.6%
Black
2.5%
Hispanic
73.7%
Asian
2.7%
Two or More Races
2.4%
Student Loan Performance
Repayment Rate (3yr)
31.6%
Accreditations
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs (Accredited)
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges — Institutional Accreditation (Accredited)
- American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education — Physical Therapy (PTA) - Programs for the physical therapist assistant (Preaccredited)
Programs (83)
Associate (48)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $39,201 | 145 |
| Business Administration & Management | $52,620 | 138 |
| Health Services | Not reported | 130 |
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | $45,349 | 115 |
| Registered Nursing | $106,782 | 83 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | $44,704 | 66 |
| Sociology | $35,465 | 45 |
| Human Development & Family Studies | Not reported | 43 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $59,719 | 27 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Not reported | 25 |
| Communications | $47,357 | 24 |
| Computer Science | Not reported | 24 |
| Sports & Fitness | Not reported | 21 |
| Fine Arts | Not reported | 19 |
| Political Science | Not reported | 18 |
| Special Education | Not reported | 17 |
| Radio, Television & Film | Not reported | 16 |
| Biology | Not reported | 16 |
| Business | Not reported | 15 |
| English Language & Literature | Not reported | 14 |
| Computer Systems Networking | Not reported | 13 |
| Computer Software Engineering | Not reported | 12 |
| Mathematics | Not reported | 12 |
| Applied Horticulture | Not reported | 11 |
| Vehicle Maintenance & Repair | Not reported | 11 |
| History | $49,234 | 11 |
| Fire Protection | Not reported | 9 |
| Accounting | Not reported | 9 |
| Physics | Not reported | 8 |
| Anthropology | Not reported | 7 |
| Economics | Not reported | 7 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | Not reported | 7 |
| Agricultural Production | Not reported | 6 |
| Natural Resources Conservation | Not reported | 6 |
| Journalism | Not reported | 6 |
| Computer & Information Sciences | Not reported | 6 |
| Romance Languages | Not reported | 6 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | Not reported | 6 |
| Practical Nursing | $40,391 | 6 |
| Chemistry | Not reported | 5 |
| Design & Applied Arts | Not reported | 5 |
| Building Construction | Not reported | 4 |
| Architectural Technology | Not reported | 3 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Not reported | 3 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | Not reported | 3 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | Not reported | 3 |
| Music | Not reported | 3 |
| Mental Health Services | Not reported | 3 |
Undergraduate Certificate (21)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | Not reported | 841 |
| Human Development & Family Studies | Not reported | 119 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | Not reported | 39 |
| Applied Horticulture | Not reported | 36 |
| Fire Protection | Not reported | 19 |
| Vehicle Maintenance & Repair | Not reported | 18 |
| Sports & Fitness | Not reported | 16 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting | Not reported | 14 |
| Mental Health Services | Not reported | 10 |
| Business Operations | Not reported | 10 |
| Computer Software Engineering | Not reported | 8 |
| Accounting | Not reported | 8 |
| Audiovisual Communications | Not reported | 7 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Not reported | 7 |
| Natural Resources Conservation | Not reported | 6 |
| Building Construction | Not reported | 6 |
| Agricultural Production | Not reported | 5 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | Not reported | 5 |
| Business | Not reported | 4 |
| Business Administration & Management | Not reported | 4 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | Not reported | 3 |
Show 14 additional programs with limited data
| Program | Level | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Technology | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Teaching Assistants/Aides | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Engineering | Associate | 2 |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | Associate | 2 |
| Music | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment | Associate | 2 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Area Studies | Associate | 1 |
| Radio, Television & Film | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Associate | 1 |
| Foods, Nutrition & Wellness | Associate | 1 |
| Social Sciences | Associate | 1 |
| Hospitality Management | Associate | 1 |
Rankings Featuring This Institution
- Highest Earning Associate's Communications Programs
- Highest Earning Associate's Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
- Highest Earning Associate's Business Programs in California
- Highest Earning Associate's Psychology Programs in California
- Highest Earning Associate's Social Sciences Programs in California
- Highest Earning Associate's Communications Programs in California
- Highest Earning Associate's Liberal Arts Programs in California
- Highest Earning Associate's Interdisciplinary Studies Programs in California
- Highest Earning Associate's Criminal Justice Programs in California
- Highest Job Growth Associate's Social Sciences Programs
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