College of the Desert vs. Los Angeles Southwest College

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

College of the Desert
Los Angeles Southwest College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Los Angeles Southwest College. Average net price is $6,361 vs $18,169 at College of the Desert.
  • Earnings 10 years out: College of the Desert $35,100 vs Los Angeles Southwest College $29,200 (median).
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Key differences

College of the Desert Los Angeles Southwest College
Acceptance rate
College of the Desert-
Los Angeles Southwest College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
College of the Desert-
Los Angeles Southwest College-
Average net price
Los Angeles Southwest College $11,808 less
College of the Desert$18,169
Los Angeles Southwest College$6,361
In-state tuition
Los Angeles Southwest College $88 less
College of the Desert$1,326
Los Angeles Southwest College$1,238
Out-of-state tuition
College of the Desert $398 less
College of the Desert$10,174
Los Angeles Southwest College$10,572
Graduation rate
College of the Desert-
Los Angeles Southwest College-
Median earnings (10 years)
College of the Desert +$5,900
College of the Desert$35,100
Los Angeles Southwest College$29,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • College of the Desert -
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • Admitted
  • College of the Desert -
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • College of the Desert Open
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • Average high school GPA
  • College of the Desert -
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • College of the Desert -
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • Admissions standards
  • College of the Desert Unavailable
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • SAT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • ACT range
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
  • Submit test scores
  • College of the Desert Open admission
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • College of the Desert $1,326
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $1,238
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • College of the Desert $10,174
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $10,572
  • Room & board
  • College of the Desert $25,151
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $25,407
  • Average net price
  • College of the Desert $18,169
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $6,361
  • Average grant aid
  • College of the Desert $6,822
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $6,622
  • % receiving grant aid
  • College of the Desert 88%
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 86%
  • Graduation rate
  • College of the Desert -
  • Los Angeles Southwest College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • College of the Desert $35,100
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $29,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • College of the Desert 35%
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 21%
  • Median student loan debt
  • College of the Desert $5,338
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $4,500
  • Median loan payment
  • College of the Desert $55
  • Los Angeles Southwest College $46
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • College of the Desert 26:1
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1
  • 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%)
  • Los Angeles Southwest College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
    • Health Professions (38%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Psychology (4%)
  • Location
  • College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • College of the Desert Small City
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • College of the Desert 12,861
  • Los Angeles Southwest College 5,371
  • Type
  • College of the Desert Public 2 Year
  • Los Angeles Southwest College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • College of the Desert
  • Los Angeles Southwest College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 5,371 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Los Angeles Southwest College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 1% lower than at Los Angeles Southwest College ($25,151 vs. $25,407).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at College of the Desert (about $398 more per year; $10,572 vs. $10,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Los Angeles Southwest College (88% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 3% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students ($6,822 vs. $6,622).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both College of the Desert and Los Angeles Southwest College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than College of the Desert graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,338).
  • Among borrowers, Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Desert graduates ($46 vs. $55).
  • More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation (35% vs. 21%).

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

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