Cabot's Old Indian Pueblo Museum · Photo: Jllm06 · CC0San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage is 14 miles from Desert Hot Springs
No college sits inside Desert Hot Springs’ boundary, but San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage’s campus in Rancho Mirage, with 260 students on campus, is 14 miles from the center of town, and College of the Desert is 17.9 miles away in Palm Desert. About 5% of Desert Hot Springs’ residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Desert Hot Springs. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Desert Hot Springs
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Desert Hot Springs
One private college within 14 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Crafton Hills College, is 32.5 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Desert Hot Springs’ median household income ($52,761) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage (14).
Questions about college near Desert Hot Springs
Is Desert Hot Springs a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Desert Hot Springs residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage, is 14 miles away in Rancho Mirage.
What colleges are near Desert Hot Springs?
Within 15 miles: San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage (14 miles, 260 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Desert Hot Springs, and what does it cost?
College of the Desert in Palm Desert, 17.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,326 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $15,728, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Crafton Hills College cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $1,188 a year in-state and $14,556 from out of state.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Desert Hot Springs. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →