GateWay Community College vs. Mesa Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare GateWay Community College in Phoenix, 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 GateWay Community College based on total student enrollment (17,077 students vs. 5,553 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• GateWay Community College is located in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting); Mesa Community College is in Mesa, AZ (Large City setting).
• GateWay Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mesa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: GateWay Community College 15:1; Mesa Community College 18:1.

GateWay Community College vs. Mesa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GateWay Community 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 Mesa Community College than GateWay Community College ($12,951 vs. $13,821).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at GateWay Community College and Mesa Community College ($10,872).
• GateWay Community College and Mesa Community College have the same published in-state tuition ($2,358.00 vs. $2,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at GateWay Community College as at Mesa Community College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at GateWay Community College than at Mesa Community College (75% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by GateWay Community College students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Mesa Community College students ($5,398 vs. $4,980).

GateWay Community College vs. Mesa Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GateWay Community College or Mesa 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 Mesa Community College and GateWay Community College.

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

GateWay Community College vs. Mesa Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GateWay Community College and Mesa 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 Mesa Community College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than GateWay Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $35,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mesa Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than GateWay Community College graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Mesa Community College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GateWay Community College graduates ($82 vs. $98).
• More GateWay Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mesa Community College students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 32%)

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.