by our College Data Analytics TeamHere’s the full picture on paying for College of the Desert, including attendance costs, projected four- and two-year degree costs, average net price, debt outcomes, and how aid is distributed across income levels.
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Cost of attendance at College of the Desert came in between $20,053.00 ranging to $28,901.00 based on in-state versus out-of-state status.
The lower figure reflects the in-state rate and the higher figure the out-of-state rate: close to $20,053.00 in-state versus $28,901.00 out of state.
The three scenarios below move from the full sticker price, to the net price after average aid, to the net price low-income students typically pay.
| Tuition and fees | $1,326.00 |
| + Room, board & other expenses | $18,727.00 |
| Total cost | $20,053.00 |
| That is 4% above the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $20,053.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$8,879.00 |
| Net price | $11,174.00 |
| That is 42% below the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $20,053.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$9,735.00 |
| Net price | $10,318.00 |
| That is 46% below the national average net price. |
| Tuition and fees | $10,174.00 |
| + Room, board & other expenses | $18,727.00 |
| Total cost | $28,901.00 |
| That is 50% above the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $28,901.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$8,879.00 |
| Net price | $20,022.00 |
| That is 4% above the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $28,901.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$9,735.00 |
| Net price | $19,166.00 |
| That is roughly at the national average net price. | |
| Explore each piece on the tuition & fees page plus room and board. |
Cost of attendance here has been rising at about 4.3% per year, so the four-year total runs well above today’s cost. These tables carry the cost across a degree for three cases: low-income w/ aid, average aid, and no aid. The loan rows amortise the projected total over a ten-year, 6.8% repayment.
| Projected 4-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Freshman year | $10,762.00 | $11,655.00 | $20,916.00 |
| Senior year | $12,212.00 | $13,225.00 | $23,734.00 |
| Total 4-year net price | $45,907.00 | $49,716.00 | $89,220.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $17,489.00 | $18,940.00 | $33,990.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $528.00 | $572.00 | $1,027.00 |
| Total amount paid | $63,396.00 | $68,656.00 | $123,210.00 |
| Projected 2-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Freshman year | $10,762.00 | $11,655.00 | $20,916.00 |
| Senior year | $11,225.00 | $12,156.00 | $21,816.00 |
| Total 2-year net price | $21,987.00 | $23,811.00 | $42,732.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $8,376.00 | $9,071.00 | $16,279.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $253.00 | $274.00 | $492.00 |
| Total amount paid | $30,363.00 | $32,882.00 | $59,011.00 |
| Projected 4-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Freshman year | $19,991.00 | $20,884.00 | $30,145.00 |
| Senior year | $22,684.00 | $23,697.00 | $34,206.00 |
| Total 4-year net price | $85,274.00 | $89,083.00 | $128,587.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $32,486.00 | $33,937.00 | $48,987.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $981.00 | $1,025.00 | $1,480.00 |
| Total amount paid | $117,760.00 | $123,020.00 | $177,574.00 |
| Projected 2-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Freshman year | $19,991.00 | $20,884.00 | $30,145.00 |
| Senior year | $20,851.00 | $21,782.00 | $31,442.00 |
| Total 2-year net price | $40,842.00 | $42,666.00 | $61,586.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $15,559.00 | $16,254.00 | $23,462.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $470.00 | $491.00 | $709.00 |
| Total amount paid | $56,401.00 | $58,920.00 | $85,049.00 |
Jump to the net-price detail in the Net Price section.
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the published sticker price. For most prospective students, net price gives a more realistic estimate than sticker tuition.
| Average net price (on-campus) | $15,728.00 |
| Average net price (off-campus) | $11,812.00 |
Net price varies sharply by family income, dropping as need-based aid grows. Below, average net price is broken out by family income:
| Family income | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $10,791.00 |
| $30,000 to $48,000 | $11,894.00 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $13,598.00 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,462.00 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,265.00 |
Run your own numbers with the College of the Desert Net Price Calculator, or check with the financial aid office.
Curious how grants and scholarships are distributed? Explore the financial aid breakdown.
The median graduating debt at College of the Desert is $5,261.00, placing the school in the Very Low (<$10k) debt-burden bucket.
The percentile breakdown reveals the full debt landscape:
| Percentile | Debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| 10th | $1,500.00 |
| 25th | $2,058.00 |
| Median (50th) | $5,261.00 |
| 75th | $6,875.00 |
| 90th | $11,000.00 |
The spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles reflects how variable debt outcomes are at this school.
For the full borrowing and repayment picture, see the student loan debt page.
The default-rate category at College of the Desert is Low (<5%).
| Window | Cohort default rate |
|---|---|
| 2-year | 14.1% |
For context on the loan portfolio, Stafford disbursements at College of the Desert total $21,004,756.00 covering 2,037 borrowers.
The figures above are a starting point — as you weigh College of the Desert, the questions below are worth your time:
Dig further into the cost picture with the related pages below:
Data sources. Figures on this page draw from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and MediaFactual editorial review. Net-price calculator and financial-aid office links are taken from the institution’s own published data.