College of the Desert vs. Fresno City College

Comparable Facts

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

Fresno City College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 12,861 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Fresno City College is in Fresno, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Fresno City College 29:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 28.5% lower than at College of the Desert ($17,982 vs. $25,151).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at College of the Desert than at Fresno City College (about $20 more per year; $10,174 vs. $10,154).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at College of the Desert (92% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($7,210 vs. $6,822).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $1,493 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($3,845 vs. $5,338).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($39 vs. $55).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno City College students, three years after graduation (35% vs. 32%).

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