FRCC vs. PPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Front Range Community College is larger than PPCC based on total student enrollment (21,970 students vs. 12,556 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Front Range Community College is located in Westminster, CO (Large Suburban setting); Pikes Peak State College is in Colorado Springs, CO (Large Suburban setting).
• Front Range 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: Front Range Community College 22:1; Pikes Peak State College 22:1.

FRCC vs. PPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FRCC 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 FRCC ($5,609 vs. $12,014).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pikes Peak State College are 28.2% lower than at Front Range Community College ($12,024 vs. $16,755).
• Front Range Community College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than PPCC (about $153 more per year; $4,663.00 vs. $4,510.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at FRCC than at Pikes Peak State College (about $153 more per year; $17,263.00 vs. $17,110.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pikes Peak State College than at Front Range Community College (56% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pikes Peak State College students is 36.2% larger than aid received by Front Range Community College students ($12,732 vs. $9,349).

FRCC vs. PPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FRCC 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 FRCC.

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

FRCC vs. PPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FRCC 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 Front Range Community College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than PPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,800 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pikes Peak State College graduates have a $5,175 lower median loan debt than FRCC graduates ($8,825 vs. $14,000).
• Among borrowers, PPCC graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FRCC graduates ($91 vs. $144).
• More FRCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PPCC students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.