Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College

Should I go to Mesa Community College or Rio Salado College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mesa Community College or Rio Salado College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

GateWay Community College Phoenix College South Mountain Community College Glendale Community College Chandler/Gilbert Community College Scottsdale Community College Pima Community College Paradise Valley Community College ASU Central Arizona College Estrella Mountain Community College
Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College comparison
Mesa Community College Rio Salado College College 3 College 4
Mesa Community College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
Location Mesa, AZ Tempe, AZ
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 15,772 17,078
Type Public 2 Year Public 2 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mesacc.edu maricopa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
Tuition (In State) $2,040 $2,040
Tuition (Out of State) $7,824 $7,824
Room & Board $10,872 $9,664
Avg Net Price $12,360 $6,834
Avg Grant Aid $3,405 $2,327
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - -
Admitted - -
Acceptance Rate Open Open
Enrolled % Open Open
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores
Application Deadline Sep 1, 2024

Academics

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 28:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Business (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (32%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)

Outcomes

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 32% 19%
Median Student Loan Debt $8,000 $7,897
Median Loan Payment $82 $81

Diversity

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
% Men 45% 40%
% Women 55% 60%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 54%
% Black 6% 12%
% Hispanic 25% 20%
% Native American 4% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 6% 7%

Students

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
% In-State 96% 85%
% Out-of-State 2% 12%

Campus

 Mesa Community College Rio Salado College
Campus Housing No No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rio Salado College is larger than than Mesa Community College based on total student enrollment (17,078 students vs. 15,772 students)

Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mesa Community College or Rio Salado College?

  • Mesa Community College and Rio Salado College cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($2,040.00 vs. $2,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is the same at Mesa Community College as Rio Salado College ($7,824.00 vs. $7,824.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rio Salado College than Mesa Community College ($6,834 vs. $12,360)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Salado College are 12.5% lower than costs at Mesa Community College ($9,664 vs. $10,872)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mesa Community College than Rio Salado College (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mesa Community College students is 46.3% larger than aid received Rio Salado College ($3,405 vs. $2,327)

Which college is harder to get into, Mesa Community College or Rio Salado College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Rio Salado College or Mesa Community College .

Mesa Community College vs. Rio Salado College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mesa Community College or Rio Salado College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Rio Salado College and Mesa Community College.

  • Graduates from Rio Salado College earn on average $1,500 more per year than Mesa Community College graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $40,000)
  • Rio Salado College students graduate with a $103 lower median federal student loan debt than Mesa Community College graduates. ($7,897 vs. $8,000)
  • Rio Salado College graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans 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/