Central Arizona College vs. Scottsdale Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Scottsdale Community College is larger than Central Arizona College based on total student enrollment (7,065 students vs. 5,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Arizona College is located in Coolidge, AZ (Distant Rural setting); Scottsdale Community College is in Scottsdale, AZ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Central Arizona College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Scottsdale Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Arizona College 15:1; Scottsdale Community College 16:1.

Central Arizona College vs. Scottsdale Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Arizona College or Scottsdale 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 Central Arizona College than Scottsdale Community College ($5,544 vs. $14,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Arizona College are 19.2% lower than at Scottsdale Community College ($8,786 vs. $10,872).
• Scottsdale Community College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Arizona College (about $108 more per year; $2,358.00 vs. $2,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 99.1% higher at Scottsdale Community College than at Central Arizona College (about $4,458 more per year; $8,958.00 vs. $4,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Arizona College than at Scottsdale Community College (74% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Arizona College students is 23.1% larger than aid received by Scottsdale Community College students ($5,325 vs. $4,325).

Central Arizona College vs. Scottsdale Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

Central Arizona College vs. Scottsdale Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Arizona College and Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale Community College earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Central Arizona College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Scottsdale Community College graduates have a $2,200 lower median loan debt than Central Arizona College graduates ($7,300 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Scottsdale Community College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Arizona College graduates ($75 vs. $98).
• More Scottsdale Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Arizona College students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.