College of the Desert: Nursing Programs, NCLEX Pass Rate & Cost
Palm Desert · California · Public · school website
College of the Desert runs 2 board-approved nursing programs in California — 1 RN-track and 1 PN/LPN-track. Its best 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 89.1% — below the California average of 90.9%. Everything below comes from the state board of nursing and U.S. Department of Education data — not the school's marketing.
Nursing Programs at College of the Desert
Board-approved programs and their 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program.
| Program | Track | Status | 2025 NCLEX pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | RN | Approved | 89.1% |
| VN Approved Program | PN | Approved | — |
Cost & Admissions
Institution-level figures from the U.S. Department of Education — the whole school's numbers, not the nursing program's alone.
What College of the Desert Nursing Graduates Earn
Federal earnings and debt data for graduates of this school's own nursing programs, by credential — not all alumni. Figures lag the current graduating class by several years; treat them as comparison floors, not salary predictions.
- Median pay, 1 yr out
- $91,848
- Median pay, 4 yrs out
- $106,782
- Graduates / yr
- 64
Thinking about College of the Desert? The NCLEX is the finish line
That 89.1% pass rate is made by students who start NCLEX-style practice early — not by the building. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from semester 1, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCLEX pass rate at College of the Desert?
College of the Desert's RN program had a 89.1% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, per the California board of nursing — the state average is 90.9% and the national average is 86.5%.
How much does College of the Desert cost?
College of the Desert's published in-state tuition / yr is $1,326, and the average net price after aid is $15,728 a year. That is the whole institution's sticker price, not the nursing program's alone, and most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
What do nursing graduates of College of the Desert earn?
ADN / Associate graduates: $91,848 median one year out. These federal figures track this school’s own nursing-program graduates and lag the current class by several years.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates come from the California board of nursing's published approved-program materials. Tuition, admissions, earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release), matched by school name and city. Tuition and admissions describe the whole institution; earnings and debt are specific to its nursing programs, by credential. “—” means the source did not publish that figure.
- collegescorecard.ed.gov — Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release
- www.rn.ca.gov — list: Rev. 7/9/2026 (rates: 2024/2025 Jul-Jun year)
- search.dca.ca.gov — list: 2026-07-12 (live DCA License Search)