College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California
- Public technical or community college
- Public
- City
- 10,207 students
What you can study
Programs this school reported awarding, with how many students finished one in the latest year. Where the federal data has it, we show what this school's graduates earned a year after finishing (for graduates from a few years back, so a program can show earnings even if few finished recently). The national figure is for everyone who finished that kind of program anywhere.
Agriculture and horticulture
- Agricultural Business and ManagementAssociate degree · 0 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $40,343
- Agricultural Production OperationsCertificate · 17 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $32,679
- Agricultural Production OperationsAssociate degree · 6 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $36,686
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesCertificate · 47 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $31,375
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesAssociate degree · 8 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $37,113
Auto, diesel and aircraft mechanic
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansCertificate · 102 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $43,278
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansAssociate degree · 9 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $48,683
Bookkeeping and accounting
- Accounting and Related ServicesCertificate · 26 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $40,897
- Accounting and Related ServicesAssociate degree · 14 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $41,647
Carpentry and construction
- Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and InspectionCertificate · 17 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $35,572
- Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and InspectionAssociate degree · 4 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $52,746
Child care and early education
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCertificate · 349 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $32,866
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsAssociate degree · 46 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $30,190
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesCertificate · 359 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $28,174
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesAssociate degree · 55 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $29,763
Computers and IT
- Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralAssociate degree · 6 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $43,763
- Computer ScienceAssociate degree · 17 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $41,515
- Computer Software and Media ApplicationsCertificate · 15 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $35,694
- Computer Software and Media ApplicationsAssociate degree · 5 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $32,720
- Computer Systems Networking and TelecommunicationsAssociate degree · 34 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $46,926
Culinary arts
- Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate · 30 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $30,130
- Culinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree · 4 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $34,674
EMT, surgical tech and imaging
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsCertificate · 5 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $55,124
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsAssociate degree · 5 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $61,169
Engineering technology
- Environmental Control Technologies/TechniciansCertificate · 277 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $42,256
- Environmental Control Technologies/TechniciansAssociate degree · 4 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $47,210
- Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansCertificate · 0 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $45,790
- Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansAssociate degree · 0 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $49,077
Graphic and applied design
- Design and Applied ArtsCertificate · 0 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $33,047
- Design and Applied ArtsAssociate degree · 2 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $31,578
Medical assisting and pharmacy tech
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesCertificate · 35 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $32,268
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesAssociate degree · 13 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $40,233
Medical billing and office
- Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCertificate · 0 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $33,067
Office and business support
- Business Operations Support and Assistant ServicesCertificate · 12 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $30,026
- Business Operations Support and Assistant ServicesAssociate degree · 1 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $34,369
Paralegal
- Legal Support ServicesCertificate · 2 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $46,000
Police, fire and corrections
- Criminal Justice and CorrectionsCertificate · 59 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $55,215
- Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate degree · 58 finishedGraduates here earned $32,697 a year after finishingNationally: $40,997
- Fire ProtectionCertificate · 38 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $52,514
- Fire ProtectionAssociate degree · 3 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $62,186
Practical nursing and nursing assistant
- Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsCertificate · 16 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $50,533
- Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsAssociate degree · 11 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $58,618
Registered nursing
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAssociate degree · 97 finishedGraduates here earned $99,505 a year after finishingNationally: $75,149
Welding and machining
- Precision Metal WorkingCertificate · 8 finishedEarnings for this school not reportedNationally: $42,421
Other programs (67)
- AnthropologyAssociate degree · 14 finishedNationally: $37,748
- Architectural Sciences and TechnologyCertificate · 0 finished
- Architectural Sciences and TechnologyAssociate degree · 7 finishedNationally: $47,589
- Area StudiesAssociate degree · 2 finished
- Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansCertificate · 7 finishedNationally: $27,737
- Biological and Physical SciencesAssociate degree · 30 finishedNationally: $33,713
- Biology, GeneralAssociate degree · 17 finishedNationally: $33,380
- Business Administration, Management and OperationsCertificate · 12 finishedNationally: $44,510
- Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate degree · 167 finishedGraduates here earned $41,070 a year afterNationally: $41,208
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherCertificate · 6 finishedNationally: $58,916
- Business/Commerce, GeneralCertificate · 24 finishedNationally: $54,610
- Business/Commerce, GeneralAssociate degree · 15 finishedNationally: $40,381
- ChemistryAssociate degree · 8 finishedNationally: $36,707
- Communication and Media StudiesAssociate degree · 26 finishedNationally: $33,346
- Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftCertificate · 1 finishedNationally: $23,873
- Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftAssociate degree · 6 finishedNationally: $22,567
- EconomicsAssociate degree · 6 finishedNationally: $42,934
- Education, GeneralAssociate degree · 2 finishedNationally: $28,911
- Education, OtherCertificate · 65 finishedNationally: $52,848
- Energy Systems Technologies/TechniciansCertificate · 0 finishedNationally: $45,889
- Energy Systems Technologies/TechniciansAssociate degree · 0 finishedNationally: $55,703
- Engineering, GeneralAssociate degree · 4 finishedNationally: $47,691
- English Language and Literature, GeneralAssociate degree · 27 finishedNationally: $27,003
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesAssociate degree · 0 finishedNationally: $31,611
- Film/Video and Photographic ArtsCertificate · 26 finishedNationally: $29,024
- Film/Video and Photographic ArtsAssociate degree · 0 finishedNationally: $28,195
- Fine and Studio ArtsAssociate degree · 17 finishedNationally: $24,176
- Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesAssociate degree · 1 finishedNationally: $25,749
- General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing OperationsCertificate · 6 finishedNationally: $52,388
- Geography and CartographyAssociate degree · 0 finishedNationally: $45,792
- Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesAssociate degree · 1 finishedNationally: $33,448
- Graphic CommunicationsCertificate · 0 finishedNationally: $24,502
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralAssociate degree · 129 finishedNationally: $38,650
- Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsAssociate degree · 125 finishedGraduates here earned $38,801 a year afterNationally: $36,179
- HistoryAssociate degree · 17 finishedNationally: $31,926
- Hospitality Administration/ManagementCertificate · 1 finishedNationally: $41,933
- Hospitality Administration/ManagementAssociate degree · 4 finishedNationally: $37,255
- JournalismAssociate degree · 3 finishedNationally: $28,005
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCertificate · 1,075 finishedNationally: $35,042
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate degree · 164 finishedGraduates here earned $42,520 a year afterNationally: $34,134
- MathematicsAssociate degree · 11 finishedNationally: $36,826
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsCertificate · 19 finishedNationally: $41,294
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsAssociate degree · 10 finishedNationally: $38,048
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherAssociate degree · 16 finishedNationally: $45,150
- MusicCertificate · 8 finishedNationally: $27,777
- MusicAssociate degree · 4 finishedNationally: $26,345
- Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchCertificate · 17 finishedNationally: $41,576
- Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchAssociate degree · 5 finishedNationally: $36,701
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementCertificate · 1 finishedNationally: $41,291
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementAssociate degree · 0 finishedNationally: $40,033
- PhilosophyAssociate degree · 4 finishedNationally: $33,648
- PhysicsAssociate degree · 11 finishedNationally: $35,965
- Political Science and GovernmentAssociate degree · 20 finishedNationally: $34,854
- Psychology, GeneralAssociate degree · 140 finishedGraduates here earned $28,851 a year afterNationally: $30,994
- Public HealthCertificate · 1 finishedNationally: $42,865
- Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationCertificate · 2 finishedNationally: $28,590
- Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationAssociate degree · 8 finishedNationally: $27,637
- Real EstateCertificate · 0 finishedNationally: $45,163
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsAssociate degree · 3 finishedNationally: $41,894
- Social Sciences, GeneralAssociate degree · 0 finishedNationally: $33,090
- SociologyAssociate degree · 54 finishedNationally: $33,731
- Special Education and TeachingAssociate degree · 19 finishedNationally: $34,283
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessCertificate · 29 finishedNationally: $28,258
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessAssociate degree · 21 finishedNationally: $32,424
- Teaching Assistants/AidesCertificate · 0 finishedNationally: $23,489
- Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralCertificate · 0 finishedNationally: $32,910
- Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralAssociate degree · 3 finishedNationally: $26,742
What it really costs
Net price is what students paid after grants and scholarships.
- Average net price
- $17,769per year, students who got grant aidSource: College Scorecard
- Total cost of attendance
- $24,207sticker price incl. living costs, per yearSource: College Scorecard
- Tuition, in-state
- $1,326Source: College Scorecard
- Students with federal loans
- 1%Source: College Scorecard
How students do
- Finish their program
- 33%first-time, full-time students finishing within 1.5 times the normal lengthSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $37,8506 years after starting, students who got federal aidSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings, later
- $44,22810 years after startingSource: College Scorecard
- Median debt at completion
- $8,750federal loans, students who finishedSource: College Scorecard
- Earned a degree or certificate here
- 31%all students who started, 8 years laterSource: College Scorecard
- Left for another college before finishing
- 15%all students who started, 8 years laterSource: College Scorecard
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Where these numbers come from
Every number on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard page for College of the Desert, which draws on what the school reports to the federal government and on federal student aid and tax records. Program earnings cover graduates who received federal student aid. We last pulled the data on November 6, 2026.
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