Central Arizona College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Coolidge, Arizona. It enrolls 4,912 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes34
Value91
Affordability61
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Central Arizona College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Central Arizona College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $4,714 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$4,714
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
3%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,250
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$4,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,786
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,786
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,815
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,815
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,720
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$3,900
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,657
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,413
$75,001 – $110,000
$8,328
Over $110,000
$8,897
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,65010%percentile
$3,01325%percentile
$10,010Medianpercentile
$11,24475%percentile
$19,59090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,455
↓ $2,555
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,510
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,510
Independent students $8,564
↓ $1,446
Female students $6,275
↓ $3,735
Male students $6,000
↓ $4,010
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,010), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
12% of full-time students who enrolled at Central Arizona College graduate within six years, and 60% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
12%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
60%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central Arizona College earn a median of $40,513 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,513
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$28,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$33,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,600, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 61% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Central Arizona College is home to 4,912 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 72% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,912
Part-Time
72%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 43.1%2,119
White 27.6%1,357
Black 6.3%307
Other 5.6%277
Asian 1.8%89
International 1.8%87
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Arizona College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeCoolidge, Arizona
Housing
Limited on-campus housing250 beds
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Central Arizona College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Arizona College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,435
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,974
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
90 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
90
100%
$65,974
Pros & Cons of Central Arizona College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central Arizona College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Central Arizona College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Arizona College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central Arizona College.
How much does Central Arizona College cost?
The average net price after aid at Central Arizona College is $4,714 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Arizona College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,513 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,714 per year. That's roughly 8.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central Arizona College known for?
Central Arizona College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central Arizona College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central Arizona College are $40,513, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central Arizona College accredited?
Yes. Central Arizona College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Central Arizona College?
Central Arizona College enrolls 4,912 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central Arizona College?
Central Arizona College graduates 12% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central Arizona College a public or private college?
Central Arizona College is a Public institution.
Where is Central Arizona College located?
Central Arizona College is located in Coolidge, Arizona.
What programs does Central Arizona College offer?
Central Arizona College offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Arizona College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Arizona College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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