Arapahoe Community College vs. CNCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO with Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arapahoe Community College is larger than CNCC based on total student enrollment (15,012 students vs. 1,271 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, CO (Large Suburban setting); Colorado Northwestern Community College is in Rangely, CO (Remote Rural setting).
• Arapahoe Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arapahoe Community College 26:1; Colorado Northwestern Community College 9:1.

Arapahoe Community College vs. CNCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arapahoe Community College or CNCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arapahoe Community College than CNCC ($10,332 vs. $12,891).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Northwestern Community College are 43.4% lower than at Arapahoe Community College ($9,500 vs. $16,785).
• Colorado Northwestern Community College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Arapahoe Community College (about $160 more per year; $4,594.00 vs. $4,434.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 133.2% higher at Arapahoe Community College than at Colorado Northwestern Community College (about $9,730 more per year; $17,034.00 vs. $7,304.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado Northwestern Community College than at Arapahoe Community College (88% vs. 32%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arapahoe Community College students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Colorado Northwestern Community College students ($8,117 vs. $7,368).

Arapahoe Community College vs. CNCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arapahoe Community College or CNCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CNCC and Arapahoe Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arapahoe Community College - Open admission; CNCC - Open admission.

Arapahoe Community College vs. CNCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arapahoe Community College and CNCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Arapahoe Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $39,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arapahoe Community College graduates have a $1,999 lower median loan debt than CNCC graduates ($10,001 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Arapahoe Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNCC graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More CNCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arapahoe Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.