Mesa Community College vs. South Mountain Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ with South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Mesa Community College is larger than South Mountain Community College based on total student enrollment (17,077 students vs. 4,516 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mesa Community College is located in Mesa, AZ (Large City setting); South Mountain Community College is in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting).
• Mesa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mesa Community College 18:1; South Mountain Community College 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Mesa Community College and South Mountain Community College ($10,872).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Mesa Community College as at South Mountain Community College ($8,958 vs. $8,958).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Mountain Community College than at Mesa Community College (75% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Mountain Community College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Mesa Community College students ($5,451 vs. $4,980).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Mesa Community College and South Mountain Community College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mesa Community College Sep 1, 2026.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mesa Community College graduates have a $919 lower median loan debt than South Mountain Community College graduates ($8,000 vs. $8,919).
• Among borrowers, Mesa Community College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Mountain Community College graduates ($82 vs. $92).
• More Mesa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Mountain Community College students, three years after graduation (32% vs. 21%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.