About College of the Desert

Founded in 1958, College of the Desert. is a college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 10,792 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The College of the Desert Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 28:1. There are 135 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at College of the Desert include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate100%
Application Deadline
Application Fee0
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at COD are considered , with ,13% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at College of the Desert.

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    25 Students rated on-campus housing 1.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    14 Students rated off-campus housing 4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    35 Students rated campus food 3.5 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    35 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    36 Students rated class size 4.2 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    35 Students rated school activities 3.9 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    36 Students rated local services 4.4 stars. 64 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    36 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.

College of the Desert REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of College of the Desert?

44 Students rated College of the Desert

alejandra - 11/14/2024

I enjoy going to College of the Desert it is a great community college that allowed me to receive an education while preparing me to transfer to a four-year university. I have never had a problem registering for classes and always register for the courses I need for my major without a problem. Counselors are available for creating schedules by appointment and on a drop-in basis which is helpful in cases of last-minute questions. The transfer center at the school provides students with the opportunity to visit top colleges such as UCLA and hosts events to help students with their transfer applications. The campus isn’t as large as a UC school and therefore easier to navigate. The library is a great place to study equipped with computers and private study rooms. Teachers are great and provide students with courses that fuel learning and leave room to ask for help whether in person by email or on Zoom during and outside office hours they are willing to help students grow. People of all ages are at the campus trying to better their lives which fosters a diverse environment. Fun elective classes are available such as yoga and tennis. The cafeterias provide students with healthy food options such as salad and other options such as matcha and Starbucks which I love. The campus and indoor facilities such as restrooms are always clean. Free textbooks are available for students to rent at the library. I have no negatives to say about College of the Desert and have thorowly enjoyed my time here. 

Dominik - 12/23/2023

Overall, if a student is looking to make progress in their academic career without shelling out tens of thousands of dollars, or is looking for a place to transition from high school work to college-level work, College of the Desert is a great place for that. Just don't go in anticipating to be as academically challenged as you would be at a four year university.

Ariana - 12/11/2020

College of the desert is a very unique campus. It is small and easy to travel from class to class. There are plenty of places to hang out with friends in between or after classes. There are equally as plenty of places to enjoy a quiet study session. There is also tutoring available in the TASK center at all hours that the campus is open. The food offered is delicious at a reasonable price and free WiFi is offered at the campus as well. The students are all friendly and very welcoming. Teachers on campus are the same way. They welcome you to the classroom with a smile and have regular office hours. The only downside would be that a few of the teachers have bad tendencies of assigning 'busy work'. Work that really isn't for practice but just to keep us occupied.

Olivia - 10/28/2020

Its ok. The professors do their best and have to bend their intellect to actually have the students understand. The student body is awful. They are basically there because they have to. There is no where to have an actual challenge because all the work is already too easy. I am not sure if everyone is dumb, but this is truly a community college in which people just try to pass and not thrive. There are a few studets in each class that actually try, but it is very slim.

College of the Desert FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at College of the Desert?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for College of the Desert is 100%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would tell myself not to wait so long to go to college. There are many ways to pay for college and that money should not be the reason to not go to college.

    Read all 28 answers

  3. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Well they are known for there education and also all the different program that they offer from the other school around the desert.

    Read all 8 answers

  4. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    Currently, the worst thing about my school is the ever-shortening list of available courses. Surely, the college is not at fault, the budget simply does not allow for a bounty of courses. However, I feel as though more time could be spent to evaluate which courses should be cut. For example, it seems quite agreeable that ?Comparative Government? serves more of a purpose than the course in ?Kickboxing?. Despite this, one was on the list of available courses for the upcoming semester, and the other was not. Take a guess.

    Read all 7 answers

  5. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    I am so grateful to have been able to go back to school in my late twenties and accomplish my dream of getting a degree. However, it was really frustrating, knowing that the semester system takes so much longer than the quarter system. In addition to that, with the current cut backs, it has become harder to get the classes needed to get to your goal. Ultimately, I would like to see the community college system switching to the quarter system to give their students the same opportunities university student currently enjoy.

    Read all 7 answers

  6. What's unique about your campus?

    My school, although it is a community college and not a university, is diverse. We have students that come from other countries to study in America. They're so interesting to get to know and to have in a classroom because of their different perspective of life and education. I can study close to home and it is affordable for me to pay for on my own with my part-time job. I am a shy person to begin with so I enjoy that there are people I know and don't feel intimidated by to ask for help.

    Read all 6 answers

  7. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    College of the Desert is a well established school, providing students with the necessary tools for a better education; nice caffeteria, good size student center, and a library close by.

    Read all 5 answers

  8. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A highly motivated and goal oriented student. Someone commited to thier educational future.

    Read all 5 answers

  9. Describe the students at your school.

    Young and very enthusiastic.

    Read all 3 answers

  10. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I would have known that I could get around using public transportation (SunBus for example)! There are so many clubs and performances year-round that I would have loved to participate in. However, I am now working full-time (while still going to school full-time) to put myself through school and to pay for a new car I bought! If I would have taken a little more time to research what resources were available in the area, I would be saving myself at least $8,448 annually (car payments, insurance, gas, etc)!

    Read all 3 answers

  11. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    If you are looking for a place to further your education. If you are looking to learn important values and skills that you will use for the rest of your life. If you are looking for a place to fit in, a place to make friends. If you are looking for a fresh start, no matter how old you are. College of the Desert is definetely the place to go. I couldn't say that someone shouldn't attend college, unless you are mentally ill, unstable and unfit to attend school. College is a place for all.

    Read all 3 answers

  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Of course the way the professors are commited to their job .

    Read all 3 answers

  13. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    In my experience, I believe compared to other 2 year colleges that are within the area, you will find a much more enjoyable atmosphere and learning environment.

    Read all 2 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

10,792

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

2%

Out-Of-State

96%

In-State

2%

International

Organizations

N/A

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

No

On-Campus Housing

N/A

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
3%
% Black or African-American
3%
% Hispanic/Latino
70%
% White or Caucasian
18%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

81% of students attending College of the Desert receive some sort of financial aid. 61% were awarded federal grants. While N/A received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$6,926

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,791

Books and Supplies

$12,492

Room and Board

21,209

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$7,697
$30 - $48K
$7,916
$48 - $75K
$10,672
$75 - $110K
$11,852
$110K & UP
N/A

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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