History of the College

The College's plEDGE program commits to providing free tuition for two years to local high school students who enroll at College of the Desert full time. In 2020, the program was expanded to include Coachella Valley residents who have attended College of the Desert in the past but are not currently enrolled. In June 2021, College of the Desert received $18 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest one-time grant in the College's 60+ year history.  That endowment continues to support the continuation of free tuition through the plEDGE program. 

In 2024, the College opened its second Child Development Center and is poised to open the Indio Expansion site across the street, which will significantly add learning opportunities to the surrounding communities to explore both career certification and transfer programming in order to achieve their goals. Classes will begin in the new Indio expansion in fall 2024.    

College of the Desert will open a one-of-a-kind campus site focused on automotive technology programming which will include emphasis areas in traditional combustion engines, electric, and hydrogen.  This state-of-the-art facility will uniquely support the transportation sector in the Coachella Valley and will open in 2026. 

Fall 2024 will also include the dedication and groundbreaking for the new Palm Springs campus location.  The Palm Springs campus is planned as a destination learning space focusing on hospitality, culinary, digital media/film, healthcare, and sustainability.  Classes will begin in 2027.      

To support students beyond the classroom, College of the Desert offers food pantry access every week, $5 textbook rental, transportation between campuses on Roadrunner Express, financial support through scholarships, grants, and internships, centers focused on the needs of Dreamers, Foster Youth, LGBTQ, and Black student groups.    

Through the College’s expansive academic programming, students can access a variety of career certifications in professions like HVAC, welding, and EMT while also providing excellent transfer preparation to both public and private universities throughout the country.  All of the college's degrees and certificates are Accredited through the Accreditation Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), of which COD is a member.

College of the Desert continues to evolve its programming, facilities, and supports in order to serve the communities of the Coachella Valley.  The faculty, staff, and administrators of College of the Desert endeavor every day to make sure that students can improve their quality of life and economic mobility as a result of their relationship and study with College of the Desert.