Rio Salado College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Salado College is larger than Estrella Mountain Community College based on total student enrollment (18,841 students vs. 10,109 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, AZ (Rural Fringe setting); Estrella Mountain Community College is in Avondale, AZ (Small Suburban setting).
• Rio Salado College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Estrella Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Salado College 31:1; Estrella Mountain Community College 25:1.

Rio Salado College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rio Salado College or Estrella 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 Rio Salado College than Estrella Mountain Community College ($8,733 vs. $13,003).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Salado College are 11.1% lower than at Estrella Mountain Community College ($9,664 vs. $10,872).
• Rio Salado College and Estrella 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 Rio Salado College as at Estrella Mountain Community College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Estrella Mountain Community College than at Rio Salado College (70% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Salado College students is 2.8% larger than aid received by Estrella Mountain Community College students ($4,913 vs. $4,777).

Rio Salado College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

Rio Salado College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rio Salado College and Estrella Mountain Community 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 $5,900 more per year than Estrella Mountain Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Estrella Mountain Community College graduates have a $824 lower median loan debt than Rio Salado College graduates ($7,073 vs. $7,897).
• Among borrowers, Estrella Mountain Community College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rio Salado College graduates ($73 vs. $81).
• More Estrella Mountain 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.