Palm Desert, CA · Public · Associate's degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026
| Tuition | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| College of the Desert (in-state) | $1,326 | — |
| CA average | $16,639 | -92% |
| National average | $18,082 | -93% |
| Per year | Four years | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $1,326 | $5,304 |
| Out-of-state | $10,174 | $40,696 |
Tuition only. Housing, books and living costs are not included — most colleges publish a fuller cost-of-attendance figure.
College of the Desert ranks 71 by in-state tuition among the 288 CA colleges that report a rate — lower is cheaper. Out-of-state students pay 667% more than in-state students.
| Colleges with a similar price to College of the Desert | In-state tuition |
|---|---|
| Canada College | $1,332 |
| Grossmont College | $1,332 |
| College of San Mateo | $1,332 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | $1,318 |
In-state tuition at College of the Desert is $1,326 per year; out-of-state students pay $10,174.
College of the Desert in-state tuition is 92% below the CA average of $16,639.
National average in-state tuition is $18,082; College of the Desert is 93% below that.
$1,326 is the official in-state tuition published by College Scorecard for the most recent cohort year.
Four years of tuition at College of the Desert comes to about $5,304 for an in-state student and $40,696 for an out-of-state student at current rates. That is tuition only — it excludes housing, books and living costs.
By in-state tuition, College of the Desert ranks 71 out of the 288 CA colleges that report a rate — lower numbers are cheaper. The five cheapest and five most expensive colleges in the state are listed above.