Avondale is home to three colleges, with 9,405 students on campus
Estrella Mountain Community College (7,047 students on campus) and Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc (1,791) are inside the city. About 6% of Avondale’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arizona (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Avondale. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Avondale
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Avondale
Two private colleges within 9.9 miles, and Estrella Mountain Community College 11.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, South Mountain Community College, is 17.9 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Avondale’s median household income ($86,123) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc (6); Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix (3).
What students study in Avondale
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Avondale’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Avondale
Is Avondale a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Avondale residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Arizona (6). The largest campus in the city, Estrella Mountain Community College, has 7,047 students on campus.
What colleges are in Avondale?
Estrella Mountain Community College, Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc and Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Avondale, and what does it cost?
Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, 11.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $12,254, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Mountain Community College cost if we live in Arizona?
Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year in-state and $8,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,902 (under $30,000 income) to $17,132 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Avondale. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →