College of the Desert: programs, outcomes and local jobs

College of the Desert at a glance

• 10,207

  students enrolled

• 2,399

  degrees and certificates a year

• 31%

  of students complete

  College Scorecard

• $15,728

  average net price a year

  Tuition $1,288 in state, $9,548 out of state

• $31,085

  median earnings, 6 years after entry

• $39,020

  median earnings, 10 years after entry

  83% working

What students study

AI and data programs

College of the Desert reported no degrees or certificates in artificial intelligence, data science, data analytics or robotics for 2024. A new program with no graduates yet would not appear here.

The job market around College of the Desert

Professional jobs listed in the cities of Riverside County, where the college is.

• 573

  open professional jobs

• 81

  entry level

  10 say no experience is needed

• 2%

  ask for AI skills

  11 jobs

• 6.2%

  unemployment in Riverside County

  2026-08 · down 0.1 points from a year earlier

• $89,672

  median household income

  Riverside County

• 33%

  of workers are in professional jobs

  estimated 3.9% unemployment among them

Jobs that fit what students study here: most degrees are in health professions, business & management, psychology, which lead to clinical (22 open), finance (45 open), sales (72 open), operations (118 open), marketing (15 open), human resources (44 open).

Hiring most: Monster Energy Company (53), Amazon (20), Universal Health Services (18), EoS Fitness (12), Kaiser Permanente (10), Pyramid Global Hospitality (9), Palm Springs Unified School District (7), Acadia Healthcare Company (6).

What they hire for: Operations (118), Engineering (75), Sales (72), Finance (45), Human Resources (44), Legal (25). Operations jobs

Job search help near campus

Workforce board: Riverside County Workforce Development Board.

• Blythe Workforce Development Satellite CenterBlythe · 760-921-5073 · Monday -Friday, 8:00 am -5:00 pm
• Hemet Workforce Development Center AJCCHemet · 951-791-3500 · Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Closed Holidays
• Hemet Youth Opportunity CenterHemet · 951-765-0917 · Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
• Indio Workforce Development Center AJCCIndio · 760-863-2500 · Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Closed Holidays
• Indio Youth Opportunity CenterIndio · 760-802-6059 · Monday -Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
• Lake Elsinore Youth Opportunity CenterLake Elsinore · 951-471-8415 · Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm

American Job Centers are free, public career offices.

Similar colleges in California

• Ventura CollegeVentura · 10,150 students
• Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine · 10,286 students
• Merced CollegeMerced · 10,001 students
• Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles · 9,998 students
• San Diego City CollegeSan Diego · 10,441 students
• Glendale Community CollegeGlendale · 10,509 students

All California colleges

Common questions

How big is College of the Desert?

College of the Desert enrolls about 10,207 students and is a public 2-year institution in Palm Desert, California. It awards about 2,399 degrees and certificates a year.

What is the graduation rate at College of the Desert?

31% of students complete, from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS 2023 / Scorecard 2026-06).

What do College of the Desert graduates earn?

Median earnings of students who received federal aid are $31,085 six years after entry and $39,020 ten years after entry, from the College Scorecard.

Does College of the Desert offer AI or data science degrees?

College of the Desert reported no degrees or certificates in artificial intelligence, data science, data analytics or robotics for 2024 (IPEDS completions). A new program with no graduates yet would not appear.

Are there jobs near College of the Desert?

573 open professional jobs are listed in Riverside County, 81 of them entry level and 10 saying no experience is needed. Monster Energy Company has the most openings.