College of the Desert

College of the Desert: Academics, Admissions & Tuition Info

Research the programs offered at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA. Learn about its academics, and get admission and financial aid info to decide if this is the right school for you.

About College of the Desert

Located in the small town of Palm Desert, California, College of the Desert (CoD) is a 2-year community college that was founded in 1958 and is part of the Desert Community College District. CoD offers vocational and technical training, high school completion programs, and developmental education. This school is primarily geared toward students interested in transferring to 4-year colleges or universities. In fact, CoD students who pursue associate's degrees often transfer to California State University at San Bernardino.

Academics

At College of the Desert, students can earn certificates or associate's degrees in more than 72 areas of study. The school's 121 full-time and 298 part-time faculty members teach courses including digital design, nursing and health sciences, turfgrass management, environmental horticulture, culinary arts, and administration of justice. Most classes are offered at the main campus in Palm Desert. In addition, students can enroll in some courses at CoD's Eastern Valley Center in Indio or its Mecca-Thermal Center in Mecca. This school also offers some courses online.

CoD offers non-credit, tuition-free adult education programs, including a high school completion program and GED test preparation. Students might be able to transfer previous high school credits or apply military service credit, previous technical school credit, or previous work experience toward the adult education program. Additionally, College of the Desert has a work experience education program, which allows students to work at paid or unpaid jobs or internships to gain hands-on training while earning college credit.

Admissions

Students can apply for admission any time online. The deadline for student wishing to enroll for Fall 2012 was September 2. CoD has open admissions, and any student who has graduated from high school or is over the age of 18 and no longer in high school may attend. In 2011, the entering class size was nearly 1,700 students. The total student population consisted of more than 9,400 undergraduates in 2011, of which 61% attended part-time.

The largest racial/ethnic groups in 2011 were as follows: 61% Hispanic/Latino, 26% White, 4% Asian, and 3% Black/African American. In the same year, 94% of CoD students were California residents, and over a third were 25 years of age or older.

Tuition & Financial Aid

In Fall 2012, tuition was $46 per unit for California residents and $232 per unit for out-of-state and international students. Additional costs associated with attendance include student center, student representative, and health services fees. Students in the nursing program must also carry malpractice insurance and pay any background check fees. CoD does not have on-campus housing or dining facilities. For the 2011-2012 school year, the anticipated total yearly cost for a full-time beginning student was $17,614 for in-state students and $22,458 for out-of-state students; these estimates include off-campus room and board, tuition, fees, books, and supplies.

CoD offers a monthly tuition payment plan. Students who enroll in this plan must pay a $20 enrollment fee and make monthly payments by the 5th of each month. In addition to federal grants and loans, work study is available to help students pay costs associated with attendance. The financial aid office maintains a list of current scholarship opportunities and their associated application deadlines.

COLLEGE OF THE DESERT QUICK FACTS
School Type	2-year, public**
Degrees Offered	Certificates, associate's degrees*
Religious Affiliation	None**
Academic Calendar	Semesters*
School Setting	Small city**
Student Body	9,404 undergraduate students in 2011**
Student Housing	None**
ACADEMICS
Programs	72 certificate and degree programs*
Student-Faculty Ratio	31 to 1 in 2011**
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2011: Less-than-1-year certificate: Applied horticulture/horticulture operations (23) 1- to 2-year certificate: Licensed practical/vocational nurse training (17) Associate's: Humanities/humanistic studies (170)**
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	2007 entering class: 5% within normal time for program 17% within 150% of normal time for program 26% within twice the normal program length**
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	Open admission**
Entering Class Size	1,684 in Fall 2012***
First-Year Retention Rates	In 2011: 69% for full-time students and 52% for part-time students**
Application Due Date	In 2012: September 2 for fall classes*
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition	$46 per unit for California residents, $232 per unit for non-residents (Fall 2012)*
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Students Receiving it)	In 2011: Grant or scholarship aid (53%), federal loans (2%)**
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	In 2011: 64% for full-time beginning students**

Sources: *College of the Desert, **National Center for Education Statistics, ***IPEDS Data Center.

School Contact Information

Address: 43-500 Monterey Ave., Palm Desert, CA 92260
Phone: (760) 773-2516
Website: www.collegeofthedesert.edu