Career Training Path › Arizona › Estrella Mountain Community College
Estrella Mountain Community College
Avondale, Arizona · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 3000 N Dysart Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392 · Phone: (623) 935-8000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Estrella Mountain Community College is a public trade and career school in Avondale, Arizona offering culinary arts, medical assistant, and LPN programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Estrella Mountain Community College has a 32.2% completion rate, below the Arizona state average of 64.4%, with median graduate debt of $7,500 and median earnings of $44,356 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Estrella Mountain Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, is accepted, and 23.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and head cooks | $33,970 | $59,890 | $74,990 |
| Medical assistants | $38,100 | $45,940 | $48,450 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $61,050 | $77,070 | $81,860 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Arizona (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 40 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 38 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 21 | not reported | $26,739 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | $29,497 | $26,643 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Estrella Mountain Community College is a public community college in Avondale, Arizona, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with nursing programs additionally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Because it participates in Title IV programs, students can use federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants here. The campus awards trade and career credentials across 7 program families, most commonly in culinary & pastry arts (84 completions), medical assistant programs (55 completions), and LPN/LVN programs (16 completions).
Federal Scorecard data shows a completion rate of 32.2%, below the state average of 64.4%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $7,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry were $44,356. About 23.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income students. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With an undergraduate enrollment of 4,512 in a large suburb setting, this campus offers a mix of shorter career-training certificates and longer associate-degree pathways, which may suit both first-time students and adult career-changers depending on the specific program chosen; program lengths are not detailed here, so applicants should confirm directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and outcomes independently, check the Higher Learning Commission's site and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Estrella Mountain Community College offers 7 program families, with the most completions in culinary & pastry schools (84), medical assistant programs (55), and LPN/LVN programs (16).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with nursing programs also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 32.2%, which is below the Arizona state average of 64.4%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $7,500, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,356, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (623) 935-8000 or visit https://www.estrellamountain.edu/ for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state funding, though specific cost details are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and check outcome data directly at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?384333.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers both shorter certificate programs and longer associate-degree pathways in fields like culinary arts, medical assisting, and nursing, which may suit career-changers, though specific scheduling and format details are not reported here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements vary by program, such as LPN licensure for nursing graduates; this is not detailed in the federal data provided, so contact the school for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Estrella Mountain Community College at (623) 935-8000 or through its website, https://www.estrellamountain.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?384333 to compare campuses directly.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.