College of the Desert vs. Monterey Peninsula College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Desert is larger than Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 7,173 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Monterey Peninsula College is in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Monterey Peninsula College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Monterey Peninsula College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 28.4% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($25,151 vs. $35,118).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 34.1% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($6,822 vs. $5,088).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both College of the Desert and Monterey Peninsula College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027.

Loans and repayment

• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation (35% vs. 31%).

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