Do Students Succeed at High Desert Medical College?
Graduation rates, transfer data, and student outcome analysis for High Desert Medical College in Lancaster, CA.
Student Success at High Desert Medical College at a Glance
High Desert Medical College is a private for profit institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Lancaster, CA. Current enrollment is 2,280 students.
- 67.7% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 71.2% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 36% of exiters from its largest program (Clinical Medical Assisting) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $18 per quarter after exiting Pharmacy Technician
- 1,017 graduates across 16 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 147 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for High Desert Medical College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Medical Assisting | 68% | 36% | 70% | — |
| Dental Assisting | 67% | 46% | 92% | — |
| Clinical Medical Assisting (Hybrid-IDL) | 75% | 65% | 63% | — |
| Pharmacy Technician | 69% | 21% | 60% | $18 |
| Veterinary Assistant Hybrid ( Hybrid-IDL) | 80% | 65% | — | — |
| Dental Assistant (Hybrid- IDL) | 70% | 57% | — | — |
| Medical Billing & Coding Hybrid (Hybrid-IDL) | 76% | 62% | — | $22 |
| Pharmacy Technician Hybrid-IDL) | 79% | 60% | — | — |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | 60% | 100% | 90% | $7,549 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at High Desert Medical College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at High Desert Medical College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
71.2%
Working Student Success
64%
Transfer Out Rate
0%
Still Enrolled Rate
0%
How High Desert Medical College Compares
71% of students complete their programs at High Desert Medical College — a strong outcome by trade-college standards, where 30–50% completion is more typical. Another 0% transfer to continue elsewhere, and 0% are still enrolled. High completion usually signals well-aligned program lengths, solid student support, and clear pathways from start to credential.
What Happens After Students Enroll at High Desert Medical College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered High Desert Medical College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 71.2% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at High Desert Medical College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at High Desert Medical College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (76%) compared to part-time students (64%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at High Desert Medical College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 858 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.