Cochise County Community College District vs. South Mountain Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cochise County Community College District in Sierra Vista, AZ with South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Mountain Community College is larger than Cochise County Community College District based on total student enrollment (4,516 students vs. 3,905 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cochise County Community College District is located in Sierra Vista, AZ (Distant Rural setting); South Mountain Community College is in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting).
• Cochise County Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cochise County Community College District 15:1; South Mountain Community College 20:1.

Cochise County Community College District vs. South Mountain Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cochise County Community College District or South 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 Cochise County Community College District than South Mountain Community College ($8,247 vs. $13,152).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cochise County Community College District are 3.5% lower than at South Mountain Community College ($10,490 vs. $10,872).
• South Mountain Community College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cochise County Community College District (about $78 more per year; $2,358.00 vs. $2,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.4% higher at South Mountain Community College than at Cochise County Community College District (about $2,838 more per year; $8,958.00 vs. $6,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Mountain Community College than at Cochise County Community College District (75% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cochise County Community College District students is 23.6% larger than aid received by South Mountain Community College students ($6,737 vs. $5,451).

Cochise County Community College District vs. South Mountain Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cochise County Community College District or South Mountain Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between South Mountain Community College and Cochise County Community College District.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cochise County Community College District - Open admission; South Mountain Community College - Open admission.

Cochise County Community College District vs. South Mountain Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cochise County Community College District and South Mountain Community College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Cochise County Community College District earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than South Mountain Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cochise County Community College District graduates have a $2,919 lower median loan debt than South Mountain Community College graduates ($6,000 vs. $8,919).
• Among borrowers, Cochise County Community College District graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Mountain Community College graduates ($62 vs. $92).
• More Cochise County Community College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Mountain Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 21%)

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.