Eastern Arizona College vs. Mesa Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, 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 Eastern Arizona College based on total student enrollment (17,077 students vs. 5,213 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Arizona College is located in Thatcher, AZ (Remote Town setting); Mesa Community College is in Mesa, AZ (Large City setting).
• Eastern Arizona College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mesa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Arizona College 16:1; Mesa Community College 18:1.

Eastern Arizona College vs. Mesa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern Arizona College 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 Eastern Arizona College than Mesa Community College ($9,400 vs. $12,951).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Arizona College are 26% lower than at Mesa Community College ($8,050 vs. $10,872).
• Mesa Community College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Eastern Arizona College (about $6 more per year; $2,358.00 vs. $2,352.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Eastern Arizona College than at Mesa Community College (about $594 more per year; $9,552.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Arizona College than at Mesa Community College (68% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Arizona College students is 92.6% larger than aid received by Mesa Community College students ($9,593 vs. $4,980).

Eastern Arizona College vs. Mesa Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eastern Arizona College 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 Eastern Arizona College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Eastern Arizona College - Open admission; Mesa Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mesa Community College Sep 1, 2026.

Eastern Arizona College vs. Mesa Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Eastern Arizona College 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 $5,000 more per year than Eastern Arizona College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.