AWC vs. Estrella Mountain Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ with Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Estrella Mountain Community College is larger than AWC based on total student enrollment (10,109 students vs. 8,964 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arizona Western College is located in Yuma, AZ (Town Fringe setting); Estrella Mountain Community College is in Avondale, AZ (Small Suburban setting).
• Arizona Western College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Estrella Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona Western College 22:1; Estrella Mountain Community College 25:1.

AWC vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AWC or Estrella Mountain Community 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 Arizona Western College than Estrella Mountain Community College ($9,026 vs. $13,003).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona Western College are 21.5% lower than at Estrella Mountain Community College ($8,538 vs. $10,872).
• Arizona Western College is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Estrella Mountain Community College (about $702 more per year; $3,060.00 vs. $2,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.2% higher at AWC than at Estrella Mountain Community College (about $912 more per year; $9,870.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona Western College than at Estrella Mountain Community College (81% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona Western College students is 62.7% larger than aid received by Estrella Mountain Community College students ($7,771 vs. $4,777).

AWC vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AWC or Estrella Mountain Community 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 Estrella Mountain Community 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; Estrella Mountain Community College - Open admission.

AWC vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AWC and Estrella Mountain Community 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 Estrella Mountain Community College earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than AWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona Western College graduates have a $823 lower median loan debt than Estrella Mountain Community College graduates ($6,250 vs. $7,073).
• Among borrowers, AWC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Estrella Mountain Community College graduates ($64 vs. $73).
• More AWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Estrella Mountain Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 32%)

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.