South Mountain Community College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Estrella Mountain Community College is larger than South Mountain Community College based on total student enrollment (10,109 students vs. 4,516 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Mountain Community College is located in Phoenix, AZ (Large City setting); Estrella Mountain Community College is in Avondale, AZ (Small Suburban setting).
• South Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Estrella Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: South Mountain Community College 20:1; Estrella Mountain Community College 25:1.

South Mountain Community College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Mountain Community College or Estrella Mountain 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 Estrella Mountain Community College than South Mountain Community College ($13,003 vs. $13,152).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at South Mountain Community College and Estrella Mountain Community College ($10,872).
• South Mountain Community College and Estrella Mountain 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 Estrella Mountain Community College ($8,958.00 vs. $8,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Mountain Community College than at Estrella Mountain Community College (75% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Mountain Community College students is 14.1% larger than aid received by Estrella Mountain Community College students ($5,451 vs. $4,777).

South Mountain Community College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, South Mountain Community College or Estrella Mountain 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 Estrella Mountain 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; Estrella Mountain Community College - Open admission.

South Mountain Community College vs. Estrella Mountain Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for South Mountain Community College and Estrella Mountain 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 Estrella Mountain Community College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than South Mountain Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Estrella Mountain Community College graduates have a $1,846 lower median loan debt than South Mountain Community College graduates ($7,073 vs. $8,919).
• Among borrowers, Estrella Mountain Community College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Mountain Community College graduates ($73 vs. $92).
• More Estrella Mountain Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Mountain Community College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.