Best Online Healthcare Programs in Palm Desert, CA (2026)
Palm Desert, California has a population of about 51,551. The city’s median household income is $79,508 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 39.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 125 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Palm Desert. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $130,970 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Healthcare Schools to Palm Desert
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 125 schools in our directory that offer healthcare programs near Palm Desert. Distances are calculated from Palm Desert city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | 1.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| International School of Beauty Inc | Palm Desert, CA | 2.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Milan Institute-Palm Desert | Palm Desert, CA | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage, CA | 4.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mayfield College | Cathedral City, CA | 6.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California Nurses Educational Institute | Palm Springs, CA | 8.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, CA | 34.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa, CA | 46.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula | Temecula, CA | 48.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley, CA | 48.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California healthcare page.
Healthcare Wages Near Palm Desert
Palm Desert is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $130,970 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $123,092 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $74,880 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,376 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $53,460 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $50,244 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $48,200 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,301 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $92,790 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,209 |
| Epidemiologist | $77,180 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $72,538 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Palm Desert at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,551 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $79,508 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 39.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Riverside County | 132,092 workers, 43,350 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Palm Desert-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs
- Indio, CA – 7.8 mi away (402,166 pop)
- La Quinta, CA – 7.8 mi away (40,956 pop)
- Cathedral City, CA – 8.8 mi away (54,056 pop)
- Palm Springs, CA – 10.6 mi away (47,689 pop)
- Coachella, CA – 13.3 mi away (44,953 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited healthcare schools are near Palm Desert, CA?
Our directory has 125 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Palm Desert. The closest is College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA (1.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Moreno Valley College (48.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Palm Desert?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Palm Desert are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($130,970), Healthcare Social Worker ($92,790), Epidemiologist ($77,180). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Indio instead of Palm Desert?
Indio, CA is 7.8 miles from Palm Desert and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Palm Desert an affordable place to study healthcare?
Palm Desert’s median household income of $79,508 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palm Desert while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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