College of the Desert

www.collegeofthedesert.edu

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$1,288

2024 Average Net Price

$18,169

After Financial Aid

2024 Enrolled Students

12,861

32.6% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

31.1%

341 Graduates

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at College of the Desert is $1,288, which is $6,872 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $18,169.

In 2024, 65% of undergraduate students attending College of the Desert received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 1% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$1,288

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at College of the Desert was $1,288. The cost of tuition at College of the Desert is $−6,872 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

This chart compares the tuition costs of College of the Desert (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$18,169

2024 Value

26.3%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 College of the Desert had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,169. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of College of the Desert grew by 26.3%.

This chart compares the average net price of College of the Desert (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$25,965

Room and Board

$938

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at College of the Desert was of $25,965 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 46% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $938. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 18.6% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at College of the Desert (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

65%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

65% of undergraduate students at College of the Desert received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 4.84% with respect to 2023, when 62% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at College of the Desert (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Enrollment

College of the Desert had a total enrollment of 12,861 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at College of the Desert is 4,187 students and the part-time enrollment is 8,674. This means that 32.6% of students enrolled at College of the Desert are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at College of the Desert, both undergraduate and graduate, is 73.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% White, 2.65% Asian, 2.44% Two or More Races, 2.38% Black or African American, 0.288% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0622% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at College of the Desert in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (43.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Male (33.1%) and White Male (6.58%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

32.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at College of the Desert in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 12,861 students. The full-time enrollment at College of the Desert is 4,187 and the part-time enrollment is 8,674. This means that 32.6% of students enrolled at College of the Desert are enrolled full-time compared with 31.9% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at College of the Desert (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

70%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at College of the Desert was 70%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (64%), College of the Desert had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at College of the Desert (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

Hispanic or Latino
9,509 enrolled students
White
1,891 enrolled students
Asian
341 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at College of the Desert is 73.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% White, 2.65% Asian, 2.44% Two or More Races, 2.38% Black or African American, 0.288% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0622% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 41.3% White, 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 386 students (3%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 911 more women than men received degrees from College of the Desert. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at College of the Desert is hispanic or latino (3,256 degrees awarded). There were 5.53 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (589 degrees).

The most common 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentration at College of the Desert is Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,075 degrees awarded), followed by Early Childhood Education & Teaching (83 degrees) and Child Care Provider (82 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at College of the Desert, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Human Sciences (415 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (281 degrees), and Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,239 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at College of the Desert are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,537,584 people), Secondary school teachers (476,175 people), Education administrators (264,121 people), Special education teachers (205,964 people), and Preschool & kindergarten teachers (202,396 people).

The most specialized majors at College of the Desert in 2024 are Human Sciences (415 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (281 degrees), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,239 degrees), Education (481 degrees), and Agriculture (78 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at College of the Desert are Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Correspondence clerks & order clerks, Actuaries, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at College of the Desert are Human Sciences (415 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (281 degrees), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,239 degrees), Education (481 degrees), and Agriculture (78 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at College of the Desert are Elementary & secondary schools (2,804,097 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (270,411 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (162,944 people), Child day care services (119,246 people), and Computer Systems Design (117,579 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by College of the Desert.

Most Common (2024)

Liberal Arts & Sciences
1,075 degrees awarded
Early Childhood Education & Teaching
83 degrees awarded
Child Care Provider
82 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at College of the Desert was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 1,075 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at College of the Desert according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,663

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

2,574

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,663 degrees were awarded to men at College of the Desert, which is 0.646 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,574).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at College of the Desert by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 435 degrees were awarded to men at College of the Desert in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.669 times less than the 650 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 650 degrees were awarded to men at College of the Desert in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.49 times more than the 435 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

15%

100% Completion Time

29%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 15% of students graduating from College of the Desert completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 29% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 35% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

Hispanic or Latino
3,256 degrees awarded
White
589 degrees awarded
Asian
142 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at College of the Desert is hispanic or latino (3,256 degrees awarded). There were 5.53 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (589 degrees).

0.378% of degree recipients (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

Hispanic or Latino Female
2,009 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
1,247 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
1,202 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at College of the Desert is hispanic or latino female (2,009 degrees awarded). There were 1.61 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino male (1,247 degrees).

Operations

College of the Desert has an endowment valued at nearly $51.2M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 29.6M (57.8%) compared to the 12.8% average return (818k on 6.41M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2024, College of the Desert had a total salary expenditure of 221M. College of the Desert employs 77 Professors, 24 Associate professors and 15 Assistant professors. Most academics at College of the Desert are Male Professor (39), Female Professor (38), and Female Associate professor (15).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at College of the Desert are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 83 employees, Service, with 64 employees, and Management with 53 employees.

Endowment

$51.2M

2024 Endowment

17.1%

decline from 2023

College of the Desert has an endowment valued at about $51.2M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of College of the Desert declined 17.1% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $44.8M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at College of the Desert (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$3.36M - Federal
$29.6M - State
$853k - Local

As of 2024, College of the Desert received $3.36M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $29.6M from state grants and contracts, and $853k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$70.7M

2024 Salaries

18.7%

decline from 2023

In 2024, College of the Desert paid a median of $70.7M in salaries, which represents 32% of their overall expenditure ($221M) and a 18.7% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 46.3% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 4% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$16.9M

Instructional Salaries

131

Number of Employees

In 2024, College of the Desert paid a total of $16.9M to 131 employees working as instructors, which represents 23.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $720k (4.04%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at College of the Desert were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 83 employees, Service with 64 employees, and Management with 53 employees.

College of the Desert

About

College of the Desert

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About

Costs

Tuition Costs

Average Net Price

Other Student Expenses

Financial Aid by Income Level

Enrollment

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

Retention Rate over Time

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Graduates

Common Jobs by Major

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Common Industries by Major

Majors Awarded

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

Most Common Male Majors

Most Common Female Majors

Time to Complete

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Operations

Endowment

Government Grants and Contracts

Salary Expenditure

Instructional Salaries

Occupations by Share

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