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Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, La Quinta, Riverside County, California, United StatesPhoto: prayitno · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near La Quinta

College of the Desert is 9.4 miles from La Quinta

No college sits inside La Quinta’s boundary, but College of the Desert’s campus in Palm Desert, with 7,129 students on campus, is 9.4 miles from the center of town. About 6% of La Quinta’s 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 La Quinta. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
7,389 students on campus
Nearest college
9.4 mi
College of the Desert
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
9.4 mi
College of the Desert · $1,326 tuition
Nearest public university
55.2 mi
Crafton Hills College · $1,188 in-state
Median household income
$99K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from La Quinta

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college 9.4 miles awayCollege of the Desert has 7,129 students on campus in Palm Desert, 31% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Crafton Hills CollegeLiving in California, Crafton Hills College charges $1,188 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $14,556. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of La Quinta

One private college within 13.1 miles, and College of the Desert 9.4 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Crafton Hills College, is 55.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of the DesertLa Quinta
University or collegeCommunity college
College of the DesertCommunity college · Public · 7,129 on campus · 9.4 mi · Palm Desert$16knet price31%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,326 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageUniversity or college · For-profit · 260 on campus · 13.1 mi · Rancho Mirage$28knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 14 campuses that file with it.

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where La Quinta’s median household income ($99,250) falls.

Crafton Hills College55.2 mi · Yucaipa · sticker $20,282 · tuition $1,188$16,637a year
College of the Desert9.4 mi · Palm Desert · sticker $24,607 · tuition $1,326$20,621a year
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage13.1 mi · Rancho Mirage · sticker $32,789$28,167a year

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.

Outcomes

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.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →College of the DesertSan Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageCrafton Hills College
College of the Desert31% graduate$39k earnings
Crafton Hills College31% graduate$43k earnings
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage70% graduate$38k earnings*$11k typical debt

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 La Quinta

Is La Quinta a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 La Quinta residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, College of the Desert, is 9.4 miles away in Palm Desert.

What colleges are near La Quinta?

Within 15 miles: College of the Desert (9.4 miles, 7,129 students on campus) and San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage (13.1 miles, 260).

What is the closest community college to La Quinta, and what does it cost?

College of the Desert in Palm Desert, 9.4 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.

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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 La Quinta. 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 →