College of the Desert vs. Madera Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Madera Community College in Madera, California on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Desert is larger than Madera Community College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 6,636 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Madera Community College is in Madera, California (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Madera Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Madera Community College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. Madera Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Madera Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Madera Community College than College of the Desert ($7,155 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Madera Community College are 28.5% lower than at College of the Desert ($17,982 vs. $25,151).
• Madera Community College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Desert (about $52 more per year; $1,378.00 vs. $1,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at College of the Desert than at Madera Community College (about $1,536 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $8,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Madera Community College than at College of the Desert (94% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Madera Community College students is 24.8% larger than aid received by College of the Desert students ($8,512 vs. $6,822).

College of the Desert vs. Madera Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Madera Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Madera Community College and College of the Desert.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Desert - Open admission; Madera Community College - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. Madera Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Madera Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.