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Mesa Arts Center - West - 2009-09-16Photo: Cygnusloop99 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Mesa

Mesa is home to four colleges, with about 14,000 students on campus

Mesa Community College (12,372 students on campus) and Pima Medical Institute-Mesa (721) are inside the city. About 6% of Mesa’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arizona (6%).

Mesa Community College

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 Mesa. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
120,006 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley
Residents in college
6%
About the same as AZ (6%)
Nearest community college
8.6 mi
Chandler-Gilbert · $2,358 tuition
Nearest public university
9 mi
Mesa · $2,358 in-state
Median household income
$83K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Mesa

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in MesaMesa Community College has 12,372 students on campus in Mesa, 16% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 8.6 miles awayChandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler: tuition and fees $2,358 a year for Arizona residents.In-state price at MesaLiving in Arizona, Mesa Community College charges $2,358 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $8,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Arizona (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Mesa

Seven private colleges within 14.4 miles, one public college within 12.7 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miArizona State University Campus ImmersionMesaChandler-GilbertMesa
University or collegeCommunity college
Pima Medical Institute-East ValleyUniversity or college · For-profit · 373 on campus · In Mesa$22knet price76%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Carrington College-MesaUniversity or college · For-profit · 492 on campus · In Mesa$49knet price54%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Chandler-Gilbert Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,019 on campus · 8.6 mi · Chandler$13knet price30%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $2,358 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Mesa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,372 on campus · In Mesa$12knet price16%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $2,358 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pima Medical Institute-MesaUniversity or college · For-profit · 721 on campus · In Mesa$21knet price67%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Sonoran University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 375 on campus · 10.3 mi · TempeGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Southwest Institute of Healing ArtsUniversity or college · For-profit · 412 on campus · 11.4 mi · Tempe$44knet price67%graduate$30kearningsScottsdale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,995 on campus · 12.5 mi · Scottsdale$13knet price17%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $2,358 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Arizona State University Campus ImmersionUniversity or college · Public · 75,603 on campus · 12.7 mi · Tempe90%admitted$15knet price68%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Brookline College-TempeUniversity or college · For-profit · 294 on campus · 14.2 mi · Tempe$22knet price40%graduate$30kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Arizona College of Nursing-TempeUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,246 on campus · 14.4 mi · Tempe100%admitted$32knet price89%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Rio Salado CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,104 on campus · 14.9 mi · Tempe$8knet price9%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $2,358 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Mesa’s median household income ($82,752) falls.

Rio Salado College14.9 mi · Tempe · sticker $13,425 · tuition $2,358$10,871a year
Mesa Community CollegeIn Mesa · sticker $18,194 · tuition $2,358$15,063a year
Chandler-Gilbert Community College8.6 mi · Chandler · sticker $17,845 · tuition $2,358$15,929a year
Scottsdale Community College12.5 mi · Scottsdale · sticker $19,281 · tuition $2,358$17,816a year
Arizona State University Campus Immersion12.7 mi · Tempe · sticker $30,111$20,130a year
Brookline College-Tempe14.2 mi · Tempe · sticker $26,076$24,394a year
Pima Medical Institute-MesaIn Mesa · sticker $27,503$25,580a year
Pima Medical Institute-East ValleyIn Mesa · sticker $25,654$25,654a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe14.4 mi · Tempe · sticker $38,153$35,163a year
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts11.4 mi · Tempe · sticker $45,279$45,279a year
Carrington College-MesaIn Mesa · sticker $52,531$49,758a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Mesa: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Chandler-GilbertMesaScottsdaleArizona State University Campus ImmersionArizona College of Nursing-TempeRio Salado College
Arizona State University Campus Immersion68% graduate$63k earnings*$20k typical debt
Mesa Community College16% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Chandler-Gilbert Community College30% graduate$51k earnings$7k typical debt
Rio Salado College9% graduate$41k earnings$10k typical debt
Scottsdale Community College17% graduate$48k earnings$8k typical debt
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe89% graduate$35k earnings*$10k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa67% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Carrington College-Mesa54% graduate$37k earnings*$10k typical debt
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts67% graduate$30k earnings$10k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley76% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Brookline College-Tempe40% graduate$30k earnings*$10k typical debt

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: Pima Medical Institute-East Valley (13); Carrington College-Mesa (5); Pima Medical Institute-Mesa (13); Arizona State University Campus Immersion (2); Brookline College-Tempe (4); Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe (20).

Majors

What students study in Mesa

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Mesa’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 24%Visual & performing arts 14%Business 10%Mechanics & repair 8%Computer science 8%Construction trades 6%Everything else 30%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesMesa Community College · 458 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMesa Community College · 176 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMesa Community College · 151 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out

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 Mesa

Is Mesa a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Mesa residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Arizona (6). The largest campus in the city, Mesa Community College, has 12,372 students on campus.

What colleges are in Mesa?

Mesa Community College, Pima Medical Institute-Mesa, Carrington College-Mesa and Pima Medical Institute-East Valley are inside the city. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is 8.6 miles away in Chandler.

What is the closest community college to Mesa, and what does it cost?

Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, 8.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $12,726, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Mesa 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 $10,838 (under $30,000 income) to $18,140 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Mesa. 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 →