Pima Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona- Graduation Rate
- 25% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,810 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $3,405 A
- 80% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 14,242
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 68.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $68.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona.
Every $1 spent returns $68.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $925,439.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 25% — 57% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $68.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Pima Community College
Pima 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
- 14,242
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Pima 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 $3,405 a year after grants and scholarships — 80% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,810 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $7,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.82 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Pima Community College serves over 14,000 students, making it a significant player in Tucson's educational landscape. With a net price of just $3,405, it stands out as an affordable option for those seeking higher education. This low cost is a major draw for students looking to minimize debt while pursuing their academic goals.
Graduates from Pima Community College earn a median salary of $39,810 ten years after entering the workforce. While the graduation rate sits at 25%, many students find pathways to success through vocational programs in fields like Health Professions and Business. The college serves a diverse student body, including 35% who receive Pell Grants, highlighting its commitment to supporting low-income students.
Students who thrive at Pima Community College are often those seeking a practical, career-focused education. With a median debt of only $7,000, graduates can enter the job market with manageable financial burdens. The college's strong programs in areas like Computer Science and Mechanic & Repair Tech cater to those looking to jump straight into high-demand careers without incurring excessive student loans.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Pima 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 Pima Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Tucson, Arizona, Pima Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 25%.
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 28%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,722
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
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 Pima Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pima Community College is $7,758, 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 $3,405. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,605 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,442
- Out-of-State
- $7,758
- Avg Net Price
- $3,405
- Median Debt
- $7,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,605
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,850
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $4,552
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,615
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Pima Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pima Community College report median earnings of $39,810, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,622
- 8 Years
- $37,341
- 10 Years
- $39,810
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (103)
- 7%
- 100% (103)
- 7%
- 100% (103)
- 7%
- 100% (103)
- 7%
How Pima 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 Pima Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Pima Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,405/year ($13,620 total). Graduates earn $39,810 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $939,059 in total earnings — a net gain of $925,439 (68.9× your investment). The median debt is $7,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 25% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $13,620
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $939,059
- Net Return
- $925,439
- ROI Multiple
- 68.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,405
- Median Debt
- $7,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 25%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $6,820,779
- Federal Grants
- $517,676
- Investment Income
- $-3,312,543
Top Programs
The fields Pima 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.
- Humanities 42%
- Health Professions 15%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 10%
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Criminal Justice 3%
- Education 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Pima 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 Pima Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Tucson, Arizona, Pima Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 25%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pima Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pima Community College is $7,758, 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 $3,405. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,605 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,000 in federal student loans.
Is Pima Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pima Community College report median earnings of $39,810, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Pima 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 Pima Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pima Community College.
- Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · Close peer30% grad $36,869 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cuyahoga Community College DistrictCleveland, OH · Close peer30% grad $35,654 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI · Close peer31% grad $39,449 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA · Close peer30% grad $41,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Chattahoochee Technical CollegeMarietta, GA · Close peer39% grad $37,138 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI · Close peer25% grad $41,113 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Pima 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 Pima Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note