ASU vs. AWC

Deciding between Arizona State University and Arizona Western College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • AWC Yuma, AZ
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • AWC Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • AWC 8,964
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • AWC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • AWC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • AWC -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • AWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • AWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • AWC $3,060
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • AWC $9,870
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • AWC $8,538
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • AWC $9,026
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • AWC $7,771
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • AWC 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • AWC -
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • AWC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • AWC Open
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • AWC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • AWC
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • AWC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • AWC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • AWC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • AWC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • AWC
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • AWC
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • AWC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • AWC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • AWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • AWC 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • AWC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
    • Construction Trades (7%)
    • Business (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • AWC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • AWC $31,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • AWC 34%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • AWC $6,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • AWC $64

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • AWC 40%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • AWC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • AWC Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • AWC No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • AWC 16%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • AWC 1%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • AWC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • AWC 72%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • AWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • AWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • AWC 1%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • AWC 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • AWC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • AWC 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • AWC 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • AWC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • AWC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • AWC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • AWC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • AWC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than AWC based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 8,964 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); Arizona Western College is in Yuma, AZ (Town Fringe setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Arizona Western College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; Arizona Western College 22:1.

ASU vs. AWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or AWC? 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 Arizona Western College than ASU ($9,026 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona Western College are 48.9% lower than at Arizona State University ($8,538 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 299.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than AWC (about $9,163 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $3,060.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 235.8% higher at ASU than at Arizona Western College (about $23,269 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $9,870.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at Arizona Western College (89% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 56.6% larger than aid received by Arizona Western College students ($12,172 vs. $7,771).

ASU vs. AWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or AWC? 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 AWC and ASU.

  • Arizona Western College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; AWC - Open admission.

ASU vs. AWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and AWC? 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 Arizona State University earn a median of about $21,000 more per year than AWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona Western College graduates have a $14,028 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($6,250 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, AWC graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($64 vs. $209).
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AWC students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 34%)

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.