South Mountain Community College vs. Paradise Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Paradise Valley Community College is larger than South Mountain Community College based on total student enrollment (6,148 students vs. 4,516 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Mountain Community College is located in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting); Paradise Valley Community College is in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting).
• South Mountain Community 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: South Mountain Community College 20:1; Paradise Valley Community College 14:1.

South Mountain Community College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Mountain Community 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 South Mountain Community College than Paradise Valley Community College ($13,152 vs. $13,296).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at South Mountain Community College and Paradise Valley Community College ($10,872).
• South Mountain Community 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 South Mountain Community College as at Paradise Valley Community College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Mountain Community College than at Paradise Valley Community College (75% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Mountain Community College students is 18.5% larger than aid received by Paradise Valley Community College students ($5,451 vs. $4,599).

South Mountain Community College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, South Mountain Community 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 South Mountain Community College.

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

South Mountain Community College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for South Mountain Community 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 Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than South Mountain Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,800 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paradise Valley Community College graduates have a $2,567 lower median loan debt than South Mountain Community College graduates ($6,352 vs. $8,919).
• Among borrowers, Paradise Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Mountain Community College graduates ($65 vs. $92).
• More Paradise Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Mountain Community College students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.