High Desert Medical College
Lancaster, CA 93534
About High Desert Medical College
High Desert Medical College is a private for-profit trade school in Lancaster, California, enrolling about 2,245 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. The published completion rate is about 67.71% at 150% of normal time. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (61.7%) and White (13.9%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Desert Medical College | — | $29,627 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is High Desert Medical College really?
Evidence: average net price at High Desert Medical College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at High Desert Medical College is $29,627.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $29,627 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $21,284 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $10,927 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
High Desert Medical College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for High Desert Medical College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
High completion indicates students finish programs at scale; it does not alone measure instructional quality or labor-market fit.
Financial profile
Avg. net price
$29,627
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $28,959 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $28,873 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $29,971 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $32,495 |
| $110,001+ | $34,287 |
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What High Desert Medical College is known for
Top program completions
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training309
- Medical/Clinical Assistant174
- 05.1091153
- Dental Assisting/Assistant121
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant100
See earnings & programs for more.
Is High Desert Medical College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
High Desert Medical College is a good school for those looking for high program completion rates.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for High Desert Medical College.
Campus
Location
Lancaster, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 93534
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 58% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Two-Year: Health Professions
Size
Enrollment
2,245
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 3,636
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$13,555
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 57.08%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for High Desert Medical College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at High Desert Medical College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for High Desert Medical College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2014–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $29,932 | $29,932 | $38,338 |
| 2015 | $31,107 | $31,107 | $38,544 |
| 2016 | — | — | $24,919 |
| 2017 | — | — | $26,193 |
| 2018 | — | — | $26,989 |
| 2019 | — | — | $27,857 |
| 2020 | — | — | $29,215 |
| 2021 | — | — | $20,729 |
| 2022 | — | — | $26,913 |
| 2023 | — | — | $27,890 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
High Desert Medical College reported total enrollment of about 2,245 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 9% male and 91% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (61.7%), White (13.9%), and Black or African American (12.9%). About 57.08% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 60.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at High Desert Medical College in 2024 is 2,245 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,636 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
13.84% 100% Completion Time
67.71% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 13.84% of students graduating from High Desert Medical College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 11% male / 89% female
- Medical/Clinical Assistant: 6% male / 94% female
- 05.1091: 5% male / 95% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
What do High Desert Medical College graduates earn—and in which programs?
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of High Desert Medical College.
Evidence Median federal loan debt: $13,555. Average net price used in cost models: $29,627.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for High Desert Medical College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (12 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at High Desert Medical College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for High Desert Medical College graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for High Desert Medical College—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 41.4%
- California median 2.0 pp above median (39.3%)
- Far West median 4.3 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 16.6 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,539
- California median 0.74× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 0.78× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,409
- California median 0.53× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 0.48× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.47× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
High Desert Medical College at a glance
High Desert Medical College
High Desert Medical College is a private for-profit institution in Lancaster, CA, classified as Special Focus Two-Year: Health Professions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse TrainingMedical/Clinical Assistant05.1091
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino61.7%White or Caucasian13.9%Black or African American12.9%
Schools near High Desert Medical College
Other campuses in Lancaster, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is High Desert Medical College located?
High Desert Medical College is located in Lancaster, CA.
How much does High Desert Medical College cost?
Reported tuition is N/A and average net price is $29,627 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What is the student body demographics at High Desert Medical College?
High Desert Medical College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,636 students, Hispanic or Latino (61.7%), White (13.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend High Desert Medical College?
About 60.0% of students at High Desert Medical College are first-generation college students.
What is the graduation rate at High Desert Medical College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do High Desert Medical College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,555.
Is High Desert Medical College public or private?
High Desert Medical College is a private for-profit institution located in Lancaster, CA.
Is High Desert Medical College an HBCU?
No. High Desert Medical College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is High Desert Medical College a tribal college?
No. High Desert Medical College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is High Desert Medical College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—High Desert Medical College reports 61.7% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is High Desert Medical College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for High Desert Medical College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Lancaster, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.