Classification of Students

  • Freshman: A student who has completed fewer than 30 units of college credit.
  • Sophomore: A student who has completed 30 or more units of college credit.
  • Post-Graduate: A student who has been awarded a degree and has enrolled for further study.
  • Full-Time: A student enrolled in 12 or more units during the Fall and Spring semesters. A student enrolled in 6 or more units during the Summer and Winter terms.
  • Part-Time: A student enrolled in 11 units or less during the Fall and Spring semesters. A student enrolled in 5 units or less during the Summer and Winter terms.
  • First-Time: A student who enrolls at the college for the first time, excluding students who transferred from another institution of higher education.
  • Transfer: A student who was previously enrolled at another institution of higher education and is now enrolling at College of the Desert. 
  • Returning: A student who was previously enrolled at College of the Desert is returning to the college after a gap of attendance. 
  • Concurrent: A student who is currently enrolled in either an adult education program or K-12 grades and is enrolling at College of the Desert as a special admit student. 
  • Dual: A student who is currently enrolled at Coachella Valley Unified, Desert Sands Unified, or Palm Springs Unified district and is taking a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) course. Such student would be enrolled as a special admit student.