Arapahoe Community College vs. PPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Arapahoe Community College is larger than PPCC based on total student enrollment (15,012 students vs. 12,556 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, CO (Large Suburban setting); Pikes Peak State College is in Colorado Springs, CO (Large Suburban setting).
• Arapahoe Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pikes Peak State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arapahoe Community College 26:1; Pikes Peak State College 22:1.

Arapahoe Community College vs. PPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arapahoe Community College or PPCC? 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 Pikes Peak State College than Arapahoe Community College ($5,609 vs. $10,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pikes Peak State College are 28.4% lower than at Arapahoe Community College ($12,024 vs. $16,785).
• Pikes Peak State College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Arapahoe Community College (about $76 more per year; $4,510.00 vs. $4,434.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at PPCC than at Arapahoe Community College (about $76 more per year; $17,110.00 vs. $17,034.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pikes Peak State College than at Arapahoe Community College (56% vs. 32%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pikes Peak State College students is 56.9% larger than aid received by Arapahoe Community College students ($12,732 vs. $8,117).

Arapahoe Community College vs. PPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arapahoe Community College or PPCC? 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 PPCC 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; PPCC - Open admission.

Arapahoe Community College vs. PPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arapahoe Community College and PPCC? 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 Arapahoe Community College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than PPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,200 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pikes Peak State College graduates have a $1,176 lower median loan debt than Arapahoe Community College graduates ($8,825 vs. $10,001).
• Among borrowers, PPCC graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Arapahoe Community College graduates ($91 vs. $103).
• More Arapahoe Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PPCC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 37%)

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.