Important Academic Statistics

Total 10,382 students attended College of the Desert in the academic year 2023-2024. There are 155 full-time faculties (instructional/teaching staffs) and 297 part-time faculties working for the school. The students to faculty ratio is 26 to 1. The number of non-teaching staffs is 453 (full-time) and 356 (part-time).
The graduation rate of College of the Desert is 27% and transfer-out rate is 5%. The retention rate is 64% at the school.
Key Academic Statistics
Student Population10,382
Graduation Rate27%
Number of Faculty452
Student to Faculty Ratio26 to 1

2024 Costs of Attendance

The 2024 tuition & fees of College of the Desert is $9,586 . The amount is for the largest program and the tuition of other programs may differ from it. It offers the alternative tuition plans.
68% of enrolled students have received grants and/or scholarships and the average amount of received financial aid is $5,203 (exclude student loans).
2024Tuition, Books & Supplies, and Living Costs
Tuition & Fees$9,586
Average Financial Amount$5,203

Offered Certificate Programs

College of the Desert offers 49 career programs for Less than 1-Year Certificate, 2 Years Certificate. The next table lists number of programs by offered program and online availability along with number of completers by certificate programs. Last year, 951 students have completed their career programs.
Offered Career Programs and Online Availability
Award LevelTotal Number of ProgramsAvailable Online ClassNumber of Completers
Less than 1-Year Certificate320225
2 Years Certificate170726
Total490951

Vocational Programs and Completers

The vocational programs at College of the Desert are offered only in on-site (classroom) education. Total 951 students have completed their vocational/technical programs last year.
  • 225 students have earned/completed Less than 1-Year Certificate program.
  • 726 students have earned/completed 1-2 Years Certificate program.
Less than 1-Year Certificate1-2 Years Certificate
Less than 1-Year Certificate Programs and Number of Completers
ProgramAvailable OnlineNumber of Completers
Agriculture 15 completers
Crop Production1
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations10
Turf and Turfgrass Management4
Natural Resources and Conservation 3 completers
Natural Resources/Conservation3
Communication and Journalism 2 completers
Radio and Television2
Computer and Information Sciences 4 completers
Computer Graphics4
Personal and Culinary Services 5 completers
Cooking and Related Culinary Arts5
Education 76 completers
Early Childhood Education and Teaching76
Engineering Technology 63 completers
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician60
Energy Management and Systems Technology/Technician2
Solar Energy Technology/Technician1
Legal Studies 1 completers
Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary1
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies 2 completers
Physical Fitness Technician2
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting 10 completers
Criminal Justice/Police Science10
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician0
Fire Science/Fire-fighting0
Construction Trades 7 completers
Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector4
Building/Construction Site Management/Manager3
Mechanics and Repairers 4 completers
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician4
Visual and Performing Arts 6 completers
Commercial Photography1
Cinematography and Film/Video Production3
Music0
Music Technology2
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences 10 completers
Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary6
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant1
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)3
Business 17 completers
Business/Commerce5
Office Management and Supervision6
Retail Management0
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science3
Hospitality Administration/Management0
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (other)3
Total225
1-2 Years Certificate Programs and Number of Completers
ProgramAvailable OnlineNumber of Completers
Agriculture 3 completers
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations1
Turf and Turfgrass Management2
Architecture 1 completers
Architectural Technology/Technician1
Computer and Information Sciences 0 completers
Information Technology0
Personal and Culinary Services 0 completers
Cooking and Related Culinary Arts0
Education 35 completers
Early Childhood Education and Teaching35
Engineering Technology 0 completers
Drafting and Design Technology/Technician0
Work and Family Studies 15 completers
Child Care and Support Services Management15
Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities 650 completers
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies650
Construction Trades 0 completers
Building/Construction Site Management/Manager0
Visual and Performing Arts 0 completers
Digital Arts0
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences 13 completers
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling13
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training0
Business 9 completers
Office Management and Supervision0
Retail Management0
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping9
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science0
Total726

Enrollment Statistics

For academic year 2022-2023, total 10,382 students have enrolled into College of the Desert. By gender, 4,367 male and 6,015 female students are attending the school.
There are 1,485 White (14.30%), 255 Black/African American (2.46%), 7,838 Hispanic (75.50%), 307 Asian (2.96%), and 8,321 students with other races. 81 students are enrolled with non-resident alien status.
Student Population By Race/ethnicity
TotalMaleFemale
Total10,3824,3676,015
American Indian/Native American361224
Asian307154153
Black/African American255129126
Hispanic7,8383,1494,689
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander14104
White1,485712773
Two More289121168
Un-Known774136
Non-resident Alien813942

Directory Information

Similar Schools to College of the Desert

The following schools offer similar vocational programs that College of the Desert have. Compare those schools to College of the Desert with tuition, financial aid, offered career programs, and more academic facts.
Palm Desert, CA
Santa Maria, CA
Merced, CA