Palm Desert, California · Public · 2-year · Small city
Overview
College of the Desert is a public two-year institution in Palm Desert, California. Its campus is in a small city. Fall 2024 enrollment was 12,861 students. It is part of California Community College System.
College of the Desert offers certificates and associate degrees across 90 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Management, and Humanities. It awarded 2,900 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 5 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
The school has an open admission policy. 70% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 26 to 1.
Key figures
Open
Admission policy
12,861
Students enrolled
70%
First-year retention
2,900
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
90
Programs and majors
26:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateAssociate
Programs and majors offered 90
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
70%
First-year retention, part-time students
44%
Student-to-faculty ratio
26:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Associate degrees
1,362
Certificates under 1 year
260
Certificates of 1 to 2 years
1,278
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
12,861
Undergraduates, fall 2024
12,861
Full-time, fall 2024
33%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
18,254
Full-time, 2024-25
25%
Size category
10,000 to 19,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
56%
Men
44%
White
17%
Hispanic or Latino
69%
Black or African American
3%
Asian
3%
Two or more races
2%
Race or ethnicity unknown
6%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
5
Programs with a fully online option
3
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
33%
Students taking some online courses
37%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Small city
Academic calendar
Semester
Part of
California Community College System
Carnegie classification
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Superintendent/President
Val Martinez Garcia
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization