Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at College of the Desert, we project that on average students will pay $20,752, while the advertised price of attendance is $36,226. That’s a difference of $15,474.
| Year | Net in-state price at College of the Desert | In-state sticker price at College of the Desert | Out-of-state sticker price at College of the Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | $20,752 | $36,226 | $45,160 |
| 24-25 | $19,703 | $34,395 | $42,986 |
| 23-24 | $18,707 | $32,657 | $40,917 |
| 22-23 | $14,391 | $25,122 | $32,934 |
| 21-22 | $13,704 | $24,465 | $32,109 |
| 20-21 | $14,179 | $23,685 | $31,245 |
| 19-20 | $14,476 | $23,664 | $30,944 |
| 18-19 | $12,270 | $21,279 | $28,559 |
| 17-18 | $11,172 | $20,721 | $27,049 |
| 16-17 | $10,002 | $19,768 | $25,367 |
| 15-16 | $9,484 | $19,248 | $24,568 |
| 14-15 | $9,323 | $18,830 | $24,346 |
| 13-14 | $8,683 | $18,461 | $23,781 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At College of the Desert this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $26,338, while students with incomes below $30K will pay around $15,561. That's a difference of $10,777.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at College of the Desert |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $15,561 |
| $30K-$48K | $17,151 |
| $48K-$75K | $19,608 |
| $75K-$110K | $23,738 |
| >$110K | $26,338 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At College of the Desert, over the last five years 28% of students earned their associate’s degree within four years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at College of the Desert.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at College of the Desert | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 33% | 24% |
| Asian | 48% | 38% |
| Black | 12% | 26% |
| Hispanic | 27% | 34% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 17% | 21% |
| White | 32% | 41% |
| Multiple races | 34% | 29% |
| Unknown race | 25% | 29% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at College of the Desert, about 68% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. College of the Desert has 14,165 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of public, 2-year schools.
About 57% of students are female.
And about 75% of students are hispanic.