Central Arizona College vs. Paradise Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Arizona College in Coolidge, 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 Central Arizona College based on total student enrollment (6,148 students vs. 5,053 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Arizona College is located in Coolidge, AZ (Distant Rural setting); Paradise Valley Community College is in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting).
• Central Arizona 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: Central Arizona College 15:1; Paradise Valley Community College 14:1.

Central Arizona College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Arizona 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 Central Arizona College than Paradise Valley Community College ($5,544 vs. $13,296).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Arizona College are 19.2% lower than at Paradise Valley Community College ($8,786 vs. $10,872).
• Paradise Valley Community College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Arizona College (about $108 more per year; $2,358.00 vs. $2,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 99.1% higher at Paradise Valley Community College than at Central Arizona College (about $4,458 more per year; $8,958.00 vs. $4,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Arizona College than at Paradise Valley Community College (74% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Arizona College students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Paradise Valley Community College students ($5,325 vs. $4,599).

Central Arizona College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Arizona 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 Central Arizona College.

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

Central Arizona College vs. Paradise Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Arizona 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 Central Arizona 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 $3,148 lower median loan debt than Central Arizona College graduates ($6,352 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Paradise Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Arizona College graduates ($65 vs. $98).
• More Paradise Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Arizona College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 26%)

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.