College of the Desert (COD) is a public community college serving the Coachella Valley in Southern California, founded in 1958 and opening its first classes in September 1962. Located in Palm Desert with additional sites throughout the valley including Indio and the Mecca/Thermal area, COD serves approximately 14,000 students with associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways. The college's Roadrunners athletic teams compete in the Desert Empire League. In April 2025, the college introduced Rodney the Roadrunner as its official mascot, reflecting the college's desert heritage and vibrant community spirit. COD is surrounded by majestic mountains and enjoys over 300 days of sunshine annually, providing a distinctive California desert campus experience. The college offers a comprehensive International Student Program and draws students from across the region and internationally. COD is recognized for its strong workforce development programs aligned with the Coachella Valley's hospitality, healthcare, and technology sectors.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$$6,832
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $10,174
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
