Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ with Rio Salado College in Tempe, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rio Salado College is larger than Mesa Community College based on total student enrollment (18,841 students vs. 17,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mesa Community College is located in Mesa, AZ (Large City setting); Rio Salado College is in Tempe, AZ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mesa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Salado College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mesa Community College 18:1; Rio Salado College 31:1.

Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mesa Community College or Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College than Mesa Community College ($8,733 vs. $12,951).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Salado College are 11.1% lower than at Mesa Community College ($9,664 vs. $10,872).
• Mesa Community College and Rio Salado College have the same published in-state tuition ($2,358.00 vs. $2,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Mesa Community College as at Rio Salado College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mesa Community College than at Rio Salado College (62% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mesa Community College students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Rio Salado College students ($4,980 vs. $4,913).

Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College Admissions comparison

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

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

Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mesa Community College and Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Mesa Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rio Salado College graduates have a $103 lower median loan debt than Mesa Community College graduates ($7,897 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Rio Salado College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mesa Community College graduates ($81 vs. $82).
• More Mesa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rio Salado College students, three years after graduation. (32% vs. 19%)

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.