College of the Desert

Overview

College of the Desert (COD) is a public community college situated in Palm Desert, California, within close proximity to the vibrant city of Palm Springs. Established in 1958, the college serves the Coachella Valley and its surrounding areas. It has a scenic, suburban campus characterized by modern architecture, with facilities that support an inclusive and comprehensive educational environment. The college offers a variety of associate degree and certificate programs, with a particular emphasis on disciplines such as arts, science, business, hospitality management, and nursing. COD is relatively open in its admission policy, aiming to provide higher education opportunities to a diverse student body. While on-campus housing is not available, the college facilitates resources for housing options nearby. COD is also recognized for certain educational pathways designed to transfer students to four-year institutions. Notably, the academic community at College of the Desert is not particularly recognized for a focus on intercollegiate athletics.

College of the Desert has an open admission policy which permits enrollment by any high school graduate or GED holding student.  3,864 students are enrolled on a full time basis, and 6,518 attend part time. In-state tuition for 2022/2023, excluding room and board, is $1,288 plus fees of $38.