AWC vs. Central Arizona College

Comparable Facts

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

Arizona Western College is larger than Central Arizona College based on total student enrollment (8,964 students vs. 5,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arizona Western College is located in Yuma, AZ (Town Fringe setting); Central Arizona College is in Coolidge, AZ (Distant Rural setting).
• Arizona Western College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Central Arizona College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona Western College 22:1; Central Arizona College 15:1.

AWC vs. Central Arizona College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AWC or Central Arizona 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 Central Arizona College than AWC ($5,544 vs. $9,026).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona Western College are 2.8% lower than at Central Arizona College ($8,538 vs. $8,786).
• Arizona Western College is 36% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Arizona College (about $810 more per year; $3,060.00 vs. $2,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 119.3% higher at AWC than at Central Arizona College (about $5,370 more per year; $9,870.00 vs. $4,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona Western College than at Central Arizona College (81% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona Western College students is 45.9% larger than aid received by Central Arizona College students ($7,771 vs. $5,325).

AWC vs. Central Arizona College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AWC or Central Arizona 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 Central Arizona College and AWC.

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

AWC vs. Central Arizona College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AWC and Central Arizona 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 Central Arizona College earn a median of about $100 more per year than AWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona Western College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Central Arizona College graduates ($6,250 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, AWC graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Arizona College graduates ($64 vs. $98).
• More AWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Arizona College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 26%)

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.