College of the Desert breaks ground on long-awaited Palm Springs campus

College of the Desert officially broke ground on its new Palm Springs campus Thursday, marking a significant milestone and the end of a 20-year wait for voters who approved its funding.

The campus, which is slated to open in fall 2027, will be built on 29 acres at the intersection of East Tahquitz Canyon Way and South Farrell Drive that formerly contained Palm Springs Mall.

Voters began approving what was to become nearly $1 billion in bond money for the college to use on new campus construction in 2004. In Palm Springs, they were promised a sprawling campus on 118 acres in the north end of town, but those plans shifted to the former Palm Springs Mall site in 2014.

“Today, we make Palm Springs a college town,” said Laura Hope, interim superintendent/president of College of the Desert. “Having a campus in Palm Springs will allow us to connect even more students with our courses, our certificates, our degrees.”

When opened, it will offer programs in hospitality, culinary arts, digital media, architecture and healthcare. It aims to provide local students with increased access to higher education and career opportunities.

“These programs are designed with the present and the future in mind, ensuring that our students are equipped for ever-changing technologies and demands,” said Dr. Bonnie Stefan, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees.

The campus will feature a demonstration theater, learning lab, film theatre and digital learning lab. A free early college healthcare pathway program is planned for Palm Springs Unified School District students.

During his remarks, Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein emphasized the impact on local students, including those at nearby palm Springs High School.

“To have a campus built right across the street for dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, free tuition, is an absolutely incredible game changer for these students,” he said.

The college is exploring the addition of Bachelor’s degree programs at the new campus. Partnerships with local employers and Cal Poly Pomona aim to provide internship and employment opportunities.

“We are actually training our own workforce that will have jobs and great mentors along the place,” Bernstein added.

The project has been long anticipated, with initial negotiations dating back to 2004. Ron Oden, a College of the Desert Board member and former Palm Springs mayor, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s momentum.

“We’ve been waiting a long time, but we’re here. And, boy, am I enjoying the momentum that we have for this project,” Oden said.

The campus is expected to boost the local economy and transform Palm Springs into a college town. Hope emphasized the economic benefits, citing an average 82.2% return on investment for students across their lifetime earnings.

“These numbers are not even accounting for the revenue and jobs that are created by the construction and operation of facilities,” Hope said.

The groundbreaking ceremony included a traditional bird singing performance by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, acknowledging the land’s indigenous history.

Construction is set to begin this winter. The college plans to host events celebrating project milestones leading up to the grand opening in 2027.

---