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Study: Arizona Among Best States For Community Colleges

Published: Monday, August 22, 2016 - 4:13pm
Updated: Monday, August 22, 2016 - 6:19pm
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(Photo by Kim Herbst via Scottsdale Community College)
Scottsdale Community College is ranked 66.

The personal finance website, WalletHub, ranks Arizona 16 overall and the Cochise County College District as the fourth best in the nation.

When it comes to the highest return on educational investment Cochise County ties for the top spot largely due to education and career outcomes, which include graduation rates and starting salaries. 

WalletHub looked at 821 community colleges and compared 12 metrics in three categories: cost and financing, education outcomes and career outcomes. Among other things, the metrics included tuition and fees, retention rates and student loan default rates. 

Other Arizona colleges that rank in the top 100 include: Mohave Community College, Tohono O’Odham Community, Scottsdale Community and Paradise Valley Community. 

Tohono O’Odham tied for the second spot when it came to lowest student-to-faculty ratio. Rio Salado College in Tempe had the lowest cost per student and one of the lowest graduation rates. 

Here’s how Arizona colleges rank in WalletHub’s 2016 Best & Worst Community Colleges:

4. Cochise County Community College District
29. Mohave Community College
46. Tohono O'Odham Community College
66. Scottsdale Community College
81. Paradise Valley Community College
197. Mesa Community College
220. Chandler-Gilbert Community College
249. Estrella Mountain Community College
269. Phoenix College
283. South Mountain Community College
349. Eastern Arizona College
375. Glendale Community College
478. Pima Community College
700. Central Arizona College
702. Northland Pioneer College
716. Yavapai College
779. Coconino Community College
805. Rio Salado College

KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa Community College District.

Source: WalletHub
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