Rio Salado College vs. Paradise Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Salado College is larger than Paradise Valley Community College based on total student enrollment (18,841 students vs. 6,148 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, AZ (Rural Fringe setting); Paradise Valley Community College is in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting).
• Rio Salado College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Paradise Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Salado College 31:1; Paradise Valley Community College 14:1.

Rio Salado College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rio Salado College or Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley Community College ($8,733 vs. $13,296).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Salado College are 11.1% lower than at Paradise Valley Community College ($9,664 vs. $10,872).
• Rio Salado College and Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley Community College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Paradise Valley Community College than at Rio Salado College (61% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Salado College students is 6.8% larger than aid received by Paradise Valley Community College students ($4,913 vs. $4,599).

Rio Salado College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rio Salado College or Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley 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; Paradise Valley Community College - Open admission.

Rio Salado College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rio Salado College and Paradise Valley 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 Rio Salado College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Paradise Valley Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $38,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paradise Valley Community College graduates have a $1,545 lower median loan debt than Rio Salado College graduates ($6,352 vs. $7,897).
• Among borrowers, Paradise Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rio Salado College graduates ($65 vs. $81).
• More Paradise Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rio Salado College students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.