Estrella Mountain Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona- Graduation Rate
- 29% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,356 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,254 B-
- 28% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,512
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona.
Every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $969,832.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 29% — 50% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Estrella Mountain Community College Matters
Estrella Mountain Community College is a public college in Avondale, AZ and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,512
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Estrella Mountain Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,254 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,356 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $7,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.04 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Estrella Mountain Community College serves around 4,500 students, making it an accessible choice for those looking to jumpstart their education in fields like Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, or Computer Science. If you're someone who thrives in a smaller, community-focused environment, this college could be a great fit. With a graduation rate of 29%, it’s clear that many students are finding their path, even if it takes some extra time.
When we look at life after graduation, graduates from Estrella Mountain see an average earning of $44,356 within ten years. This is a solid figure that reflects the value of the education received, especially considering that the cost of attending is relatively manageable. Students who take advantage of financial aid can find that the net price after aid is about $12,254, making it a practical choice for many.
The financial picture here is encouraging. With a median debt of only $7,500, students can leave with a manageable financial burden. Those who are likely to thrive at Estrella Mountain are often those who appreciate a supportive community and are motivated to explore various academic and career avenues. This college could be a stepping stone towards a successful future, especially for students who are willing to invest in their education while keeping an eye on affordability.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Estrella Mountain Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Estrella Mountain Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Avondale, Arizona, Estrella Mountain Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,322
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 54%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Estrella Mountain Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Estrella Mountain Community College is $8,958, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,254. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,780 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,358
- Out-of-State
- $8,958
- Avg Net Price
- $12,254
- Median Debt
- $7,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,780
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,281
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,247
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,197
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Estrella Mountain Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Estrella Mountain Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Estrella Mountain Community College report median earnings of $44,356, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,357
- 8 Years
- $42,288
- 10 Years
- $44,356
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (52)
- 5%
- 100% (52)
- 5%
- 100% (52)
- 5%
- 100% (52)
- 5%
How Estrella Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Estrella Mountain Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Estrella Mountain Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,254/year ($49,016 total). Graduates earn $44,356 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,018,848 in total earnings — a net gain of $969,832 (20.8× your investment). The median debt is $7,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 29% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $49,016
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,018,848
- Net Return
- $969,832
- ROI Multiple
- 20.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,254
- Median Debt
- $7,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 29%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Estrella Mountain Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 24% $33,206 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $31,771 early-career
- Humanities 13%
- Computer Science & IT 10% $39,544 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $65,959 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $28,152 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 4% $31,771 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Estrella Mountain Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Estrella Mountain Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Avondale, Arizona, Estrella Mountain Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Estrella Mountain Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Estrella Mountain Community College is $8,958, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,254. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,780 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,500 in federal student loans.
Is Estrella Mountain Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Estrella Mountain Community College report median earnings of $44,356, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Estrella Mountain Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Estrella Mountain Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Estrella Mountain Community College.
- College of Southern MarylandLa Plata, MD · Close peer33% grad $44,435 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Merritt CollegeOakland, CA · Close peer23% grad $44,392 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire, WI · Close peer48% grad $46,297 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake, MN · Close peer27% grad $46,424 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Chandler-Gilbert Community CollegeChandler, AZ · Close peer27% grad $51,111 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville, AR · Close peer29% grad $43,505 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Estrella Mountain Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Estrella Mountain Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note