Pima Community College vs. Rio Salado College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pima Community College in Tucson, 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 Pima Community College based on total student enrollment (18,841 students vs. 16,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pima Community College is located in Tucson, AZ (Large City setting); Rio Salado College is in Tempe, AZ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pima 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: Pima Community College 18:1; Rio Salado College 31:1.

Pima Community College vs. Rio Salado College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pima 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 Pima Community College than Rio Salado College ($3,670 vs. $8,733).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Salado College are 16.3% lower than at Pima Community College ($9,664 vs. $11,542).
• Pima Community College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rio Salado College (about $84 more per year; $2,442.00 vs. $2,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.5% higher at Rio Salado College than at Pima Community College (about $1,200 more per year; $8,958.00 vs. $7,758.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pima Community College than at Rio Salado College (66% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pima Community College students is 26.5% larger than aid received by Rio Salado College students ($6,216 vs. $4,913).

Pima Community College vs. Rio Salado College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pima 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 Pima Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pima Community College - Open admission; Rio Salado College - Open admission.

Pima Community College vs. Rio Salado College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pima 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 $6,900 more per year than Pima Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $34,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pima Community College graduates have a $1,147 lower median loan debt than Rio Salado College graduates ($6,750 vs. $7,897).
• Among borrowers, Pima Community College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rio Salado College graduates ($69 vs. $81).
• More Pima Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rio Salado College students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.