Rio Salado College vs. Yavapai College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rio Salado College in Tempe, AZ with Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rio Salado College is larger than Yavapai College based on total student enrollment (18,841 students vs. 7,428 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, AZ (Rural Fringe setting); Yavapai College is in Prescott, AZ (Small City setting).
• Rio Salado College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Yavapai College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Salado College 31:1; Yavapai College 19:1.

Rio Salado College vs. Yavapai College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rio Salado College or Yavapai 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 Yavapai College ($8,733 vs. $8,929).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Salado College are 13.6% lower than at Yavapai College ($9,664 vs. $11,180).
• Yavapai College is 25% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rio Salado College (about $590 more per year; $2,948.00 vs. $2,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Yavapai College than at Rio Salado College (about $528 more per year; $9,486.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yavapai College than at Rio Salado College (57% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Yavapai College students is 29.3% larger than aid received by Rio Salado College students ($6,352 vs. $4,913).

Rio Salado College vs. Yavapai College Admissions comparison

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

Rio Salado College vs. Yavapai College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rio Salado College and Yavapai 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 $8,700 more per year than Yavapai College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rio Salado College graduates have a $1,550 lower median loan debt than Yavapai College graduates ($7,897 vs. $9,447).
• Among borrowers, Rio Salado College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yavapai College graduates ($81 vs. $97).
• More Yavapai 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.