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 table 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.

Mesa Community College vs. South Mountain Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mesa Community College or South Mountain 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 South Mountain Community College ($12,951 vs. $13,152).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Mesa Community College and South Mountain Community College ($10,872).
• Mesa Community College and South Mountain Community 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 South Mountain Community College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• 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).

Mesa Community College vs. South Mountain Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mesa Community College or South Mountain 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 South Mountain Community 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; South Mountain Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mesa Community College Sep 1, 2026.

Mesa Community College vs. South Mountain Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mesa Community College and South Mountain 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 $8,300 more per year than South Mountain Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.