AWC vs. Mesa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Mesa Community College is larger than AWC based on total student enrollment (17,077 students vs. 8,964 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

AWC vs. Mesa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AWC or Mesa 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 Mesa Community College ($9,026 vs. $12,951).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona Western College are 21.5% lower than at Mesa Community College ($8,538 vs. $10,872).
• Arizona Western College is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mesa 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 Mesa 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 Mesa Community College (81% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona Western College students is 56% larger than aid received by Mesa Community College students ($7,771 vs. $4,980).

AWC vs. Mesa Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AWC or Mesa 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 Mesa 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; Mesa Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mesa Community College Sep 1, 2026.

AWC vs. Mesa Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AWC and Mesa 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 Mesa Community College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than AWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona Western College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Mesa Community College graduates ($6,250 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, AWC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mesa Community College graduates ($64 vs. $82).
• More AWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mesa 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.