Public Associate Strong 73/100

Pima Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Tucson, Arizona

About Pima Community College

Pima Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Tucson, Arizona. It enrolls 14,242 students (a large 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
18.6%
Net Price
$3,405
Median Earnings (10yr)
$39,810
Enrollment
14,242
Student : Faculty
19:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). 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
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 34
Value 95
Affordability 69
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Pima Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Pima Community 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 $3,405 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$3,405
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
9%
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)
$2,442
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,758
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,542
Books & Supplies
$1,920
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,420
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,851

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
    $2,605
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $2,850
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $4,552
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $7,865
  • Over $110,000
    $9,615

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.

$1,278
10% percentile
$1,750
25% percentile
$7,000
Median percentile
$7,523
75% percentile
$14,327
90% 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 $4,850 ↓ $2,150
No Pell $3,500 ↓ $3,500
Dependent students $3,500 ↓ $3,500
Independent students $5,250 ↓ $1,750
Female students $4,750 ↓ $2,250
Male students $4,000 ↓ $3,000
Pell recipients: 18.8% (1,313 students)No Pell: 13.5% (948 students)Dependent students: 13.5% (948 students)Independent students: 20.3% (1,422 students)Female students: 18.4% (1,286 students)Male students: 15.5% (1,083 students)Overall Median$7,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,500, less than completers ($7,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

19% of full-time students who enrolled at Pima Community College graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
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 Pima Community College earn a median of $39,810 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,810
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$34,000$36,000$37,000$39,000$41,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$31,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$39,800

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$32,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$37,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$45,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,300, about 21% 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 18.0 pts across 6 years
47.6%1yr52.6%3yr59.5%5yr65.6%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 66% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Pima Community College is home to 14,242 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 75% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
14,242
Part-Time
75%
First-Generation
48%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 52.3% 7,449
White 32.2% 4,587
Other 5.5% 788
Black 5.3% 751
Asian 2.7% 383
International 0.9% 122
Hispanic: 52.3% (7,449 students)White: 32.2% (4,587 students)Other: 5.5% (788 students)Black: 5.3% (751 students)Asian: 2.7% (383 students)International: 0.9% (122 students)Total14,242

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Pima Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Tucson, Arizona
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
38% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Pima Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 51 distinct programs across 15 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.

2 Programs
8 Programs
9 Programs
4 Programs
3 Programs
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pima Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,932
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,490
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

246 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
No Rank 246 100% $75,490

Pros & Cons of Pima Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pima Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Class sizes are on the higher side
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Pima Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pima Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pima Community College.

Is Pima Community College hard to get into?
Pima Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Pima Community College?
Pima Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Pima Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Pima Community College is $3,405 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pima Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,810 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,405 per year. That's roughly 11.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pima Community College known for?
Pima Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pima Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pima Community College are $39,810, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pima Community College accredited?
Yes. Pima Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Pima Community College?
Pima Community College enrolls 14,242 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pima Community College?
Pima Community College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pima Community College a public or private college?
Pima Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Pima Community College located?
Pima Community College is located in Tucson, Arizona.
What programs does Pima Community College offer?
Pima Community College offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pima Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pima Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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