CNCC vs. PPCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, CO with Pikes Peak State College in Colorado Springs, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pikes Peak State College is larger than CNCC based on total student enrollment (12,556 students vs. 1,271 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colorado Northwestern Community College is located in Rangely, CO (Remote Rural setting); Pikes Peak State College is in Colorado Springs, CO (Large Suburban setting).
• Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pikes Peak State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado Northwestern Community College 9:1; Pikes Peak State College 22:1.

CNCC vs. PPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNCC or PPCC? 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 Pikes Peak State College than CNCC ($5,609 vs. $12,891).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Northwestern Community College are 21% lower than at Pikes Peak State College ($9,500 vs. $12,024).
• Colorado Northwestern Community College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than PPCC (about $84 more per year; $4,594.00 vs. $4,510.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.3% higher at PPCC than at Colorado Northwestern Community College (about $9,806 more per year; $17,110.00 vs. $7,304.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado Northwestern Community College than at Pikes Peak State College (88% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pikes Peak State College students is 72.8% larger than aid received by Colorado Northwestern Community College students ($12,732 vs. $7,368).

CNCC vs. PPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNCC or PPCC? 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 PPCC and CNCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CNCC - Open admission; PPCC - Open admission.

CNCC vs. PPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CNCC and PPCC? 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 Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than PPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pikes Peak State College graduates have a $3,175 lower median loan debt than CNCC graduates ($8,825 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, PPCC graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNCC graduates ($91 vs. $124).
• More CNCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PPCC students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 37%)

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.