Estrella Mountain Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Avondale, Arizona. It enrolls 4,512 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 (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.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes40
Value50
Affordability31
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Estrella Mountain 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 Estrella Mountain 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 $12,254 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,254
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
7%
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)
$2,358
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,958
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,872
Books & Supplies
$1,104
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$11,304
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,040
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
$10,780
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,281
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,247
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,695
Over $110,000
$17,197
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,99225%percentile
$7,500Medianpercentile
$11,75075%percentile
$22,41890%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 $5,250
↓ $2,250
No Pell $3,500
↓ $4,000
Dependent students $4,500
↓ $3,000
Independent students $5,250
↓ $2,250
Female students $5,009
↓ $2,491
Male students $4,500
↓ $3,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, less than completers ($7,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at Estrella Mountain Community College graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
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 Estrella Mountain Community College earn a median of $44,356 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,356
Earning > $25K
72%
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
$33,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,500, about 29% 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 ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 61% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Estrella Mountain Community College is home to 4,512 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students, 68% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,512
Part-Time
68%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 57.8%2,606
White 22.5%1,017
Black 8.3%374
Other 6.6%298
Asian 3.3%149
International 0.2%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Estrella Mountain Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbAvondale, Arizona
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Estrella Mountain Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
24 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 Estrella Mountain Community College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,928
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$89,835
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
94 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
94
100%
$89,835
Pros & Cons of Estrella Mountain Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Estrella Mountain Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Estrella Mountain Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Estrella Mountain Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Estrella Mountain Community College.
Is Estrella Mountain Community College hard to get into?
Estrella Mountain Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Estrella Mountain Community College?
Estrella Mountain Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Estrella Mountain Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Estrella Mountain Community College is $12,254 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Estrella Mountain Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,356 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,254 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Estrella Mountain Community College known for?
Estrella Mountain Community College is best known for its programs in Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Estrella Mountain Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Estrella Mountain Community College are $44,356, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Estrella Mountain Community College accredited?
Yes. Estrella Mountain Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Estrella Mountain Community College?
Estrella Mountain Community College enrolls 4,512 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Estrella Mountain Community College?
Estrella Mountain Community College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Estrella Mountain Community College a public or private college?
Estrella Mountain Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Estrella Mountain Community College located?
Estrella Mountain Community College is located in Avondale, Arizona.
What programs does Estrella Mountain Community College offer?
Estrella Mountain Community College offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Estrella Mountain Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Estrella Mountain Community College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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