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Colleges / AZ / Phoenix
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GateWay Community College

#5 Best Online Colleges in Arizona
Public Phoenix, AZ · Urban · Southwest · 80% data
B- Diversity B- Value C+ Affordability
24%
F
Graduation Rate
Lower completion rate than most colleges
$46,147
C+
Earnings (10yr)
Roughly in line with national averages
$13,339
C+
Net Price
22% less than the typical college
4,538
Enrollment
Earnings +13% vs avg
Graduation -58% vs avg
Net Price +-22% vs avg
Mobility Top 77%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Online Colleges in Arizona.

19.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $965,088.

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What The Data Says

1

A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Graduation of 24% — 58% below the national average.

3

Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About GateWay Community College

GateWay Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
4,538
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Computer Science & IT, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose GateWay Community College

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 51% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,147 median
B-
Value
3.5× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,339/yr net
F
Graduation
24% graduate
D
Social Mobility
1.0% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Just 24% of students graduate from GateWay Community College, a statistic that highlights the challenges many face in completing their education. With an enrollment of 4,538, this public college in Phoenix, Arizona, serves a diverse student body, yet many struggle to finish their programs.

The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data on outcomes and mobility for GateWay is not readily available, but the college focuses on practical career paths. Graduates earn an average of $46,147 within ten years of completing their studies. With 28% of students receiving Pell Grants, the school serves a significant number of low-income individuals, underscoring its role in providing access to education.

Students at GateWay thrive in programs like Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Computer Science & IT. The net price of attendance is $13,339, and the median debt for graduates is relatively low at $6,750. This makes GateWay an attractive option for those seeking affordable education without incurring heavy debt.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective GateWay Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into GateWay Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

GateWay Community College, located in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 24%.

Full-Time Faculty 100%
Faculty Salary (mo) $9,489
Student–Faculty Ratio 12:1
Diversity Index 0.66
First-Gen Students 57%
2

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 GateWay Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending GateWay Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $8,958 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $13,339 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,325 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $6,750.

$2,358
In-State Tuition
$8,958
Out-of-State
$13,339
Avg Net Price
$6,750
Median Debt
28%
Pell Grant Rate
12%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$12,325
Family Income $0–$30K
$12,007
Family Income $30K–$48K
$15,243
Family Income $48K–$75K
$19,314
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is GateWay Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of GateWay Community College earn a median of $46,147, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$42,262
6 Years After Entry
$43,557
8 Years
$46,147
10 Years
0.15x
Debt-to-Earnings
61%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$42,262 6yr $43,557 8yr $46,147 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

24%
100% (71)
24%
100% (71)
24%
100% (71)
24%
100% (71)

How GateWay Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation24%Earnings 10yr$46KNet Price$13KMedian Debt$7KPell Grant Rate28%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$12K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$19K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%16.3%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%6.1%MOBILITY0.99%

College ROI Calculator

Is GateWay Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, GateWay Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,339/year ($53,356 total). Graduates earn $46,147 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,018,444 in total earnings — a net gain of $965,088 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $6,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$53,356
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,018,444
Projected 20yr Earnings
$965,088
Net Return
19.1×
ROI Multiple
$13,339
Cost Per Year
$6,750
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
24%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does GateWay Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

GateWay Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here: roughly 16.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $58,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

0.99%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
6.1%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
16.3%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$58,100
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is GateWay Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at GateWay Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias runs higher (0.17), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

0.78
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.17
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
3.0%
Volunteering Rate
0.86
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Top Programs

The fields GateWay Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into GateWay Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

GateWay Community College, located in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 24%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend GateWay Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending GateWay Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $8,958 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $13,339 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,325 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $6,750.

Is GateWay Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of GateWay Community College earn a median of $46,147, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does GateWay Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

GateWay Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here: roughly 16.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $58,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is GateWay Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at GateWay Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias runs higher (0.17), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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