Central Arizona College vs. GCU

Should I go to Central Arizona College or Grand Canyon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Arizona College or GCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Central Arizona College vs. Grand Canyon University comparison
Central Arizona College Grand Canyon University College 3 College 4
Grand Canyon University
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Overview

 Central Arizona College GCU
Location Coolidge, AZ Phoenix, AZ
Setting Distant Rural Large City
Enrollment 4,652 101,816
Type Public 2 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website centralaz.edu gcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central Arizona College GCU
Tuition (In State) $1,500 $16,500
Tuition (Out of State) $3,000 $16,500
Room & Board $7,300 $7,800
Avg Net Price $6,945 $21,939
Avg Grant Aid $4,579 $9,662
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 98%

Admission

 Central Arizona College GCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 29,304
Admitted - 22,818
Acceptance Rate Open 77.9%
Enrolled % Open 37%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Central Arizona College GCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (27%)
  • Construction Trades (15%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Precision Production Trades (9%)
  • Health Professions (56%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 Central Arizona College GCU
Graduation Rate - 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,700 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 26% 32%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,500 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $98 $193

Diversity

 Central Arizona College GCU
% Men 38% 27%
% Women 62% 73%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 48%
% Black 7% 18%
% Hispanic 29% 19%
% Native American 5% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 6%

Students

 Central Arizona College GCU
% In-State 96% 25%
% Out-of-State 1% 74%

Campus

 Central Arizona College GCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Canyon University is larger than than Central Arizona College based on total student enrollment (101,816 students vs. 4,652 students)

Central Arizona College vs. GCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Arizona College or GCU?

  • Grand Canyon University is 1,000% more expensive to attend than Central Arizona College for in-state tuition ($16,500.00 vs. $1,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 450% higher at GCU than Central Arizona College ($16,500.00 vs. $3,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Arizona College than GCU ($6,945 vs. $21,939)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Arizona College are 6.8% lower than costs at Grand Canyon University ($7,300 vs. $7,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grand Canyon University than Central Arizona College (98% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grand Canyon University students is 111% larger than aid received Central Arizona College ($9,662 vs. $4,579)

Which college is harder to get into, Central Arizona College or GCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GCU or Central Arizona College .

Central Arizona College vs. GCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Arizona College or GCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GCU and Central Arizona College.

  • Graduates from Grand Canyon University earn on average $22,600 more per year than Central Arizona College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $31,700)
  • Central Arizona College students graduate with a $9,250 lower median federal student loan debt than GCU graduates. ($9,500 vs. $18,750)
  • Central Arizona College graduates are paying $95 less per month on federal student loans than GCU graduates. ($98 vs. $193)
  • More GCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Arizona College students, three years after graduation. (32% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/