Arapahoe Community College vs. Trinidad State College

Comparable Facts

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

Arapahoe Community College is larger than Trinidad State College based on total student enrollment (15,012 students vs. 1,613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, CO (Large Suburban setting); Trinidad State College is in Trinidad, CO (Remote Town setting).
• Arapahoe Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Trinidad State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arapahoe Community College 26:1; Trinidad State College 16:1.

Arapahoe Community College vs. Trinidad State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arapahoe Community College or Trinidad State College? 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 Trinidad State College ($10,332 vs. $12,198).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinidad State College are 42.3% lower than at Arapahoe Community College ($9,693 vs. $16,785).
• Trinidad State College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Arapahoe Community College (about $174 more per year; $4,608.00 vs. $4,434.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 132.8% higher at Arapahoe Community College than at Trinidad State College (about $9,716 more per year; $17,034.00 vs. $7,318.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinidad State College than at Arapahoe Community College (84% vs. 32%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trinidad State College students is 20.6% larger than aid received by Arapahoe Community College students ($9,786 vs. $8,117).

Arapahoe Community College vs. Trinidad State College Admissions comparison

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

Arapahoe Community College vs. Trinidad State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arapahoe Community College and Trinidad State College? 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 $8,500 more per year than Trinidad State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,200 vs. $30,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Trinidad State College graduates have a $3,861 lower median loan debt than Arapahoe Community College graduates ($6,140 vs. $10,001).
• Among borrowers, Trinidad State College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Arapahoe Community College graduates ($63 vs. $103).
• More Arapahoe Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trinidad State College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

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.