A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at College of the Desert are primarily Hispanic with a smaller White population. The school has medium racial diversity. 80% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
College of the Desert has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
20%
|
| Black |
3%
|
| Hispanic |
68%
|
| Asian |
3%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 38% more female students than male students enrolled at College of the Desert with a gender ratio of 58% women to 42% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, College of the Desert has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
42%
|
| Women |
58%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
4,367
|
| Women |
6,015
|
College of the Desert serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 95 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
95%
|
| Out of State |
2%
|
| Foreign |
3%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
50% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 32.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 58.6% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=113573 IPEDS survey data for College of the Desert.