College of the Desert
About
College of the Desert (COD) is a public community college in Palm Desert, California. COD enrolls about 12,500 students, of which around one third attend college full-time. It serves the Coachella Valley of Riverside County. The college is federally recognized as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), receiving Title V grants.
Outcomes & equity
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 64.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
What families actually pay
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Academic programs
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Faculty
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
College of the Desert vs IPEDS peer group
The peer institutions College of the Desert selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCollege of the Desert | 31% | — | 12,861 | $11,812 | Community College |
Bristol Community College | — | — | 6,950 | $6,235 | Community College |
Bunker Hill Community College | — | — | 9,876 | $6,313 | Community College |
Butler Community College | — | — | 6,841 | $16,051 | Community College |
Cabrillo College | — | — | 9,457 | $13,328 | Community College |
Cape Fear Community College | — | — | 14,082 | $5,416 | Community College |
Chabot College | — | — | 12,842 | $4,616 | Community College |
Columbia State Community College | — | — | 5,712 | $4,576 | Community College |
CUNY Bronx Community College | — | — | 6,787 | $4,342 | Community College |
CUNY Hostos Community College | — | — | 5,478 | $5,001 | Community College |
CUNY Queensborough Community College | — | — | 10,337 | $4,620 | Community College |
Delta College | — | — | 8,397 | $4,550 | Community College |
Hartnell College | — | — | 11,273 | $2,895 | Community College |
Imperial Valley College | — | — | 8,873 | $1,697 | Community College |
Las Positas College | — | — | 8,103 | $4,175 | Community College |
Los Medanos College | — | — | 8,455 | $5,692 | Community College |
Motlow State Community College | — | — | 5,980 | $10,421 | Community College |
Mott Community College | — | — | 6,718 | $6,258 | Community College |
Nashville State Community College | — | — | 7,533 | $6,283 | Community College |
Oklahoma City Community College | — | — | 11,475 | $5,135 | Community College |
Oxnard College | — | — | 7,361 | $659 | Community College |
Pellissippi State Community College | — | — | 9,399 | $5,252 | Community College |
Rockland Community College | — | — | 5,364 | $8,508 | Community College |
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus | — | — | 5,218 | $10,818 | Community College |
Santiago Canyon College | — | — | 11,897 | $3,407 | Community College |
South Plains College | — | — | 9,098 | $7,062 | Community College |
Southwest Tennessee Community College | — | 100.0% | 7,004 | $4,588 | Community College |
St Charles Community College | — | — | 6,143 | $5,981 | Community College |
Ventura College | — | — | 12,222 | $2,257 | Community College |
Volunteer State Community College | — | — | 6,963 | $10,477 | Community College |
Walters State Community College | — | — | 5,899 | $4,153 | Community College |
| Peer group median | 31% | 100.0% | 8,103 | $5,252 |
Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research supports the mission of College of the Desert by providing timely, accurate, objective data and information about the institution and the students it serves.
Visit IR office page- Oxana AghaeiDirector, Institutional Research
Documents & reports (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data definitionDefinition of TermsThe College of the Desert's 'Definition of Terms' page provides clear definitions for key institutional data metrics, ranging from student headcount to degree completion and transfers, which are essential for understanding enrollment, retention, and student success metrics at the college. These terms support benchmarking and strategic goals such as the Vision for Success, ensuring clarity in data reporting and goal setting.collegeofthedesert.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookFact Book2024The Fact Book for College of the Desert provides public access to detailed data and statistics related to various aspects of the college including student enrollment, outcomes, transfers, and employee demographics, with data accessible through the CCCCO MIS Data Mart. It is intended to inform stakeholders about the college’s performance and strategic planning direction.collegeofthedesert.edu
- GlossaryDefinition of Terms - Institutional ResearchThis glossary from the College of the Desert provides definitions for various terms used in their institutional research context. Key terms include metrics like headcount, enrollment, FTES, course success and retention rates, persistence, and modality. It also covers institutional goals such as degrees and certificates earned, transfers, and goals associated with the Vision for Success initiative. These terms are essential for understanding the data and outcomes related to institutional effectiveness and student success at the College of the Desert.collegeofthedesert.edu
- Strategic planCollege of the Desert Strategic Master Plan2023The College of the Desert’s Strategic Master Plan 2023-2028 outlines strategic goals, objectives, and actions to guide the college’s future and fulfill its mission. With a focus on improving student success and equity, the plan aligns with both state and national higher education initiatives while focusing on community engagement and institutional accountability. Through collaborative efforts, the plan addresses challenges, leverages strengths, and seeks to expand opportunities for the college’s diverse communities.collegeofthedesert.edu
Notable alumni (6)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Juan Carrillo
- Caesar Frazier
- William Hemmerdinger
- Jordan Howlett
- Malcolm Kokocinski
- Jimmie Villalobos
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