College of the Desert vs. Fullerton College

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

College of the Desert
Fullerton College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Fullerton College. Average net price is $8,306 vs $18,169 at College of the Desert.
  • Earnings 10 years out: College of the Desert $35,100 vs Fullerton College $37,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

College of the Desert Fullerton College
Acceptance rate
College of the Desert-
Fullerton College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
College of the Desert-
Fullerton College-
Average net price
Fullerton College $9,863 less
College of the Desert$18,169
Fullerton College$8,306
In-state tuition
Fullerton College $176 less
College of the Desert$1,326
Fullerton College$1,150
Out-of-state tuition
College of the Desert $2,205 less
College of the Desert$10,174
Fullerton College$12,379
Graduation rate
College of the Desert-
Fullerton College-
Median earnings (10 years)
Fullerton College +$2,200
College of the Desert$35,100
Fullerton College$37,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at College of the Desert and Fullerton College with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at College of the Desert Check my chances at Fullerton College
  • Applied
  • College of the Desert -
  • Fullerton College -
  • Admitted
  • College of the Desert -
  • Fullerton College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Fullerton College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Fullerton College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College
  • Average high school GPA
  • College of the Desert -
  • Fullerton College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • College of the Desert -
  • Fullerton College -
  • Admissions standards
  • College of the Desert Unavailable
  • Fullerton College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College
  • SAT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College
  • ACT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College
  • Submit test scores
  • College of the Desert Open admission
  • Fullerton College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • College of the Desert $1,326
  • Fullerton College $1,150
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • College of the Desert $10,174
  • Fullerton College $12,379
  • Room & board
  • College of the Desert $25,151
  • Fullerton College $22,086
  • Average net price
  • College of the Desert $18,169
  • Fullerton College $8,306
  • Average grant aid
  • College of the Desert $6,822
  • Fullerton College $5,301
  • % receiving grant aid
  • College of the Desert 88%
  • Fullerton College 87%
  • Graduation rate
  • College of the Desert -
  • Fullerton College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • College of the Desert $35,100
  • Fullerton College $37,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • College of the Desert 35%
  • Fullerton College 39%
  • Median student loan debt
  • College of the Desert $5,338
  • Fullerton College N/A
  • Median loan payment
  • College of the Desert $55
  • Fullerton College N/A
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • College of the Desert 26:1
  • Fullerton College 25:1
  • Popular majors
  • College of the Desert
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (10%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Fullerton College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Location
  • College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
  • Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
  • Setting
  • College of the Desert Small City
  • Fullerton College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • College of the Desert 12,861
  • Fullerton College 19,521
  • Type
  • College of the Desert Public 2 Year
  • Fullerton College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • College of the Desert
  • Fullerton College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (19,521 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); Fullerton College is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Fullerton College 25:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 12.2% lower than at College of the Desert ($22,086 vs. $25,151).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.7% higher at Fullerton College than at College of the Desert (about $2,205 more per year; $12,379 vs. $10,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Fullerton College (88% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($6,822 vs. $5,301).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

  • More Fullerton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation (39% vs. 35%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

College of the Desert
Fullerton College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges