School Guiders California Palm Desert College of the Desert
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College of the Desert

Palm Desert, California — 43-500 Monterey Ave, 92260

Annual Tuition $1,326
Enrollment 8,900
Acceptance Rate N/A
Median Salary $39,020

College of the Desert is a leading Public institution located in Palm Desert, California. Established to provide high-quality education, College of the Desert offers a range of programs and is recognized for its commitment to student success and academic excellence in the United States region.

College of the Desert Quick Facts
Founded 1/1/1966
Location Palm Desert, California
Type Public
Total Enrollment 8,900 students
Median Salary $39,020

Rankings and Academic Profile of College of the Desert

Institution Name College of the Desert
Location Palm Desert, California
Official Website https://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/
Address 43-500 Monterey Ave
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Institution Type Public
Total Students 8,900

College of the Desert Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate Not Reported
Avg. SAT Score N/A
ACT Midpoint N/A

College of the Desert Tuition Fees and Financial Aid

In-State Tuition $1,326
Out-of-State Tuition $9,586
Pell Grant Rate 32.4%

The Real Cost

Net Price After Aid

College of the Desert Cost by Family Income

What you actually pay after grants and scholarships, broken down by household income. Numbers below reflect the average net price reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Family Income $0 โ€“ $30,000 $10,791/yr
Family Income $30,001 โ€“ $48,000 $11,894/yr
Family Income $48,001 โ€“ $75,000 $13,598/yr
Family Income $75,001 โ€“ $110,000 $16,462/yr
๐Ÿ’ก

Low-income families (earning under $30k) pay an average of $10,791/year โ€” often covered almost entirely by Pell Grants and institutional aid.

Calculate Your Personal Aid

Opens the official Federal Student Aid Estimator

Major Spotlight

Top 3 by Early Salary

Based on median earnings 2 years after graduation from College of the Desert, sourced from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data.

1

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Salary after College of the Desert

Associate's Degree
โญ Good Earning
2yr Salary $73,446 median/yr
Median Debt $13,806 at graduation
Salary/Debt 532% ROI ratio
๐Ÿ“ˆ 1yr: $91,848 ๐Ÿ“ˆ 4yr: $95,005
2

Criminal Justice and Corrections. Salary after College of the Desert

Associate's Degree
๐Ÿ“Š Avg. Earning
2yr Salary $37,208 median/yr
Median Debt N/A
Salary/Debt N/A
๐Ÿ“ˆ 1yr: $32,482 ๐Ÿ“ˆ 4yr: $48,240
3

Business Administration, Management and Operations. Salary after College of the Desert

Associate's Degree
๐Ÿ“Š Avg. Earning
2yr Salary $30,409 median/yr
Median Debt $5,500 at graduation
Salary/Debt 553% ROI ratio
๐Ÿ“ˆ 1yr: $25,934 ๐Ÿ“ˆ 4yr: $31,622

Salary data from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Results reflect median earnings 2 years post-graduation.

Programs Offered at College of the Desert

10 programs
Program Name
Degree
Graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Associate's
Graduates 437
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Associate's
Graduates 335
Psychology, General.
Associate's
Graduates 333
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
Graduates 219
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Associate's
Graduates 194
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.
Associate's
Graduates 144
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Associate's
Graduates 121
Sociology.
Associate's
Graduates 119
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Associate's
Graduates 103
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Associate's
Graduates 87
Showing top 10 of 84 programs by graduates

Graduate Outcomes and ROI for College of the Desert

Average Salary $39,020
Is College of the Desert Worth It? โ€” ROI Analysis 2026
Average Net Price $11,812
Median Career Earnings $39,020

Campus Location and Facilities in Palm Desert

Total Students 8,900

Gender Breakdown

57.1%
42.9%
Women Men

Enrollment Type

Full-time 40.2%
Part-time
Full-time Part-time

Diversity & Ethnicity

Hispanic
76.1%
White
13.9%
Asian
2.9%
Two or More Races
2.8%
Black
2.5%
International
0.9%
Unknown / Unreported
0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.1%

Campus Demographics

๐ŸŽ‚
Avg. Age at Entry 23
๐ŸŽ“
First-Generation 62.1%
๐ŸŽ–๏ธ
Veterans 0.8%
๐Ÿ’
Married Students 9.4%
๐Ÿ“…
Students Age 25+ 29.2%

Student Economic Background

Median Household Income $50,445
Average Family Income $22,260
Median Family Income $19,994

Faculty Profile

Faculty Gender

46.1%
53.9%
Women Men
Student-Faculty Ratio 25:1 students per faculty member

Frequently Asked Questions about College of the Desert

What is the acceptance rate at College of the Desert?

Acceptance rate data for College of the Desert is not reported in the 2026 U.S. Department of Education dataset.

How much is tuition at College of the Desert?

Tuition at College of the Desert is $1,326 per year. Net price and financial aid options may reduce this cost significantly depending on individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for graduates of College of the Desert?

Graduates of College of the Desert earn a median salary of $39,020 per year, based on 2026 U.S. Department of Education earnings data.

Where is College of the Desert located?

College of the Desert is located at 43-500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, California 92260. The campus is situated in the United States region of the United States.