AWC vs. Rio Salado College

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Salado College is larger than AWC based on total student enrollment (18,841 students vs. 8,964 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arizona Western College is located in Yuma, AZ (Town Fringe setting); Rio Salado College is in Tempe, AZ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Arizona Western College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Salado College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona Western College 22:1; Rio Salado College 31:1.

AWC vs. Rio Salado College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AWC or Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College than AWC ($8,733 vs. $9,026).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona Western College are 11.7% lower than at Rio Salado College ($8,538 vs. $9,664).
• Arizona Western College is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College (81% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona Western College students is 58.2% larger than aid received by Rio Salado College students ($7,771 vs. $4,913).

AWC vs. Rio Salado College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AWC or Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado 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; Rio Salado College - Open admission.

AWC vs. Rio Salado College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AWC and Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than AWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona Western College graduates have a $1,647 lower median loan debt than Rio Salado College graduates ($6,250 vs. $7,897).
• Among borrowers, AWC graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rio Salado College graduates ($64 vs. $81).
• More AWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rio Salado College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 19%)

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.