Admission
Individuals who meet any one of the following criteria are eligible to attend College of the Desert:
- Have graduated from high school or
- Have passed the CA High School Proficiency Exam or
- Have passed the GED Examination or
- 18 years of age or older and can benefit from instruction
Certain programs have special admission requirements.
Non-graduates of High School
For those interested, the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program provides an alternative way to complete high school graduation requirements. Please contact 760.776.7318 for more information.
Early College: Free College for High School Students
Students in grades K-12 may enroll at College of the Desert (COD) to pursue advanced scholastic or vocational education [Education Code 48800(a)]. All K-12 students attending COD for the first-time must complete all matriculation steps, which include: online application, K12 enrollment authorization form, online orientation, and add course form. Continued enrollment in subsequent semesters will only require submission of the add course form.
Students enrolled as Early College Students have the option of taking COD courses at their high school or at any COD location, including online.
Taking Courses at Your High School
College of the Desert has partnered with the following public-school systems to offer COD courses at local high school campuses through a College and Career Access Pathways Agreement (CCAP):
- Coachella Valley Unified School District
- Desert Sands Unified School District
- Palm Springs Unified School District
- Riverside Office of Education
- Nova Academy Early College High School
- Altus Schools
These agreements allow students to take COD courses at their high school campus, during the school day, and earn both college and high school credit at the same time.
To participate in COD’s Early College Program at Your High School, students must complete all matriculation steps listed below. Enrollment in courses at your high school is based on the student course request process at each individual high school. When seeking enrollment in a course offered at a specific high school, students should work with their high school counselor to identify the appropriate course to take and the required registration process. To see what courses are offered at your school, please visit our Early College for High School Students webpage under the Admissions tab at www.collegofthedesert.edu.
All courses offered at a high school site, during the high school day, are free of charge for students. This includes tuition, student fees, and course materials. K-12 Students taking courses at their high school site may be permitted to enroll in up to 15 units. The Director of Educational Partnerships may make exceptions, subject to consideration and approval.
Taking Courses at College of the Desert
All K-12 students are eligible to take courses at COD, even if they do not attend one of the schools or school districts listed above. If a specific course that a student would like to take is not offered at their high school, or if a student’s high school does not have a current CCAP agreement with COD, the student is still eligible to participate in COD’s Early College Program.
To participate, students must complete all matriculation steps listed below. Once all matriculation steps are complete, K-12 students will be permitted to enroll in a COD course during open enrollment. Open enrollment dates can be found on the COD website. Registration in all COD courses is based on a first-come, first serve basis, and K12 students will be permitted to enroll if the requested course still has open seats.
To best understand degree requirements and the appropriate courses that a student should take, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with a COD counselor. This can be done by calling 760-773-2521. Once students have identified which COD course they would like to take, students will need to submit an add course form to the Early College Office. This request will then be communicated to Admissions and Records and the student will be enrolled permitted there is still space in the course.
K-12 students who take courses at a COD site do not need to pay tuition for the course, but may be required to pay for student fees and course materials. K-12 Students taking courses at a COD site may be permitted to enroll in up to 11 units. The Director of Educational Partnerships may make exceptions, subject to consideration and approval.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in any of the Early College Programs at COD, students must:
- Be in the 9th-12th grade (special permission given to younger student based on program)
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress at COD and at High School
- Submit a College of the Desert Application
- Submit a K12 enrollment authorization form, which includes school and parent consent
Matriculation Steps
COD Courses at Your High School (see Early College Webpage for more details)
1. Meet with your high school counselor to determine if a COD course will fit in your high school schedule
2. Complete COD application
3. Complete K-12 Authorization form
4. Complete online orientation
5. Enroll in COD course (done by submitting your name to your high school counselor)
6. Attend welcome session (available in person at your high school site or online)
COD Courses at a COD Location (see Early College Webpage for details)
1. Complete COD application
2. Complete K-12 Authorization form
3. Complete online orientation
4. Meet with COD Counselor to identify appropriate courses
5. Enroll in COD course (done by submitting an add course form)
Attend welcome session (available at in person at COD locations and online)
College Credits Students will earn college credit applied to COD certificate and/or degree programs for all courses completed with a C or better. In some cases, a grade of a D will allow a student to earn college credit, but students should seek counseling services to understand how a D could impact their progress towards degree completion. Under certain conditions, credits earned are transferable to CSU’s and UC’s. Students should always consult with a COD counselor to understand degree and transfer requirements.
Students can earn credit towards their high school diploma upon successful completion of COD courses. Students should always consult with their high school counselor to understand which COD courses can be applied towards their high school diploma. The high school of attendance always maintains the right to apply course credits earned by the student towards the student’s high school diploma.
Removal From an Early College Program
Students can be removed from any of COD’s Early College Programs for any of the following reasons:
- Failure to meet student conduct standards
- Two consecutive semesters of not meeting satisfactory academic progress at COD
- Written removal of consent from parent or high school of attendance
Important Student Records Considerations
Early College students are enrolled in a college course. As such, the instructor works directly with the student. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), instructors are not required to discuss student performance or other student-related issues with parents/guardians. Written student consent is required for access and release of information defined as educational records in federal and state law as described in College of the Desert Board Policy 5040. More information about the federal regulation may be found here Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Probationary Transfer Students
Applicants whose scholastic achievement at another college represents less than a “C” average may be admitted for a restricted academic program. Satisfactory performance in this work may allow admission to subsequent semesters. Admission on probation is a privilege granted, not a right of the applicant.
Nursing Program Supplemental Application
The Nursing department has a screening process and supplemental application for their candidates due to department requirements and enrollment limitations for Nursing. Students accepted in the Nursing Program must follow the requirements as set forth by the State Board of Nursing. Policies and Procedures are in the Nursing Handbook. Information regarding this application is available on the School of Health Sciences & Education webpage.
International Applicants
College of the Desert welcomes applications from international students and offers a full-service International Student Program to support students throughout their studies. In order to be considered for admission, international students must complete the online International Student Application form. (International students should not apply through CCCApply.) In addition to the application, applicants must submit proof of adequate funding for studies at COD and verification of high school/secondary school graduation. Applicants must also submit a minimum TOEFL score of 400 (paper-based test) or 40 (internet-based test). For more information, visit the International Education webpage.
All international students must purchase the COD international health insurance plan. International students are also required to enroll for a minimum of 12 units each semester to maintain their F-1 visa status. Students in this status must pay foreign student tuition and capital outlay fees.
Students wishing to study at the Intensive English Academy (IEA) may also apply using the online International Student Application form. Students applying for the IEA do not need to submit a TOEFL score. Students can choose from 8-week and 16-week programs at the IEA. The IEA is offered on a full-time basis and offers various entry dates throughout the year. International students in the IEA will benefit from 30 hours per week of English instruction in both the classroom and language lab. Students in the IEA must purchase COD’s international student health insurance plan.
For more information and to obtain an application, please visit the International Education webpage.
