Cerritos College vs. College of the Desert

Cerritos College and College of the Desert side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Cerritos College
College of the Desert

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Cerritos College. Average net price is $4,325 vs $18,169 at College of the Desert.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cerritos College $35,000 vs College of the Desert $35,100 (median).
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Key differences

Cerritos College College of the Desert
Acceptance rate
Cerritos College-
College of the Desert-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cerritos College-
College of the Desert-
Average net price
Cerritos College $13,844 less
Cerritos College$4,325
College of the Desert$18,169
In-state tuition
College of the Desert $38 less
Cerritos College$1,364
College of the Desert$1,326
Out-of-state tuition
College of the Desert $1,830 less
Cerritos College$12,004
College of the Desert$10,174
Graduation rate
Cerritos College-
College of the Desert-
Median earnings (10 years)
College of the Desert +$100
Cerritos College$35,000
College of the Desert$35,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

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  • Applied
  • Cerritos College -
  • College of the Desert -
  • Admitted
  • Cerritos College -
  • College of the Desert -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cerritos College Open
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cerritos College Open
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cerritos College -
  • College of the Desert -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cerritos College -
  • College of the Desert -
  • Admissions standards
  • Cerritos College Unavailable
  • College of the Desert Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert
  • SAT range
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert
  • ACT range
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert
  • Submit test scores
  • Cerritos College Open admission
  • College of the Desert Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cerritos College $1,364
  • College of the Desert $1,326
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cerritos College $12,004
  • College of the Desert $10,174
  • Room & board
  • Cerritos College $22,088
  • College of the Desert $25,151
  • Average net price
  • Cerritos College $4,325
  • College of the Desert $18,169
  • Average grant aid
  • Cerritos College $5,925
  • College of the Desert $6,822
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cerritos College 89%
  • College of the Desert 88%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cerritos College -
  • College of the Desert -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cerritos College $35,000
  • College of the Desert $35,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cerritos College 35%
  • College of the Desert 35%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cerritos College $6,000
  • College of the Desert $5,338
  • Median loan payment
  • Cerritos College $62
  • College of the Desert $55
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cerritos College 26:1
  • College of the Desert 26:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cerritos College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • College of the Desert
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (10%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Location
  • Cerritos College Norwalk, CA
  • College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
  • Setting
  • Cerritos College Small City
  • College of the Desert Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cerritos College 21,859
  • College of the Desert 12,861
  • Type
  • Cerritos College Public 2 Year
  • College of the Desert Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cerritos College
  • College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Cerritos College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 12,861 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
  • Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,088 vs. $25,151).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Cerritos College than at College of the Desert (about $1,830 more per year; $12,004 vs. $10,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at College of the Desert (89% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,822 vs. $5,925).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Cerritos College and College of the Desert.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $662 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($5,338 vs. $6,000).
  • Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($55 vs. $62).
  • More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation (35% vs. 35%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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