Start with purpose
at Chandler-Gilbert in Arizona
You're weighing whether to spend your first two years at Chandler-Gilbert Community College before completing a bachelor's at a four-year school in Arizona. That means looking hard at transfer rates, what students actually earn afterward, and what you'll owe when you leave.
~15,000 undergrads, 39% transfer out by year 8, median $51k 10-yr earnings, $7,000 median debt.
A solid Chandler CC with a standout transfer-out rate and clean debt profile
Chandler-Gilbert Community College enrolls about 15,000 undergrads in Chandler, Arizona, with roughly 75% attending part-time. Thirty-nine percent of students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — well above the national community college norm. Median earnings reach $51k ten years out, and median debt is just $7,000. Art studies and business programs each produce hundreds of completions annually. In-state tuition is $2,328 and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. The cost-plus-transfer combination makes this a genuinely practical starting point for a bachelor's in Arizona.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College serves about 15,000 undergraduates in Chandler, Arizona, part of the Maricopa County Community College District. Roughly 75% of students attend part-time — a majority that reflects the working-adult and dual-enrollment population common to large suburban community colleges. The top program by completions is Art/Art Studies, with 643, followed by Business/Commerce at 362 and Business Administration at 293. Liberal Arts and Sciences produced 284 completions and Natural Sciences 200. Those numbers signal functional infrastructure across both transfer-prep and career tracks. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 39%, which is strong — meaningfully above the national average range for community colleges. Median earnings ten years out are $51k, median debt is $7,000, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition runs $2,328 annually, though the net price is $12,726. For an Arizona student with a clear transfer goal, the data here is encouraging.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Art/Art Studies, General. | 643 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 362 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 293 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 284 |
| Natural Sciences. | 200 |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 77 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 77 |
| Psychology, General. | 75 |
| Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician. | 72 |
| Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician. | 71 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Arizona transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Chandler-Gilbert Community College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The numbers are encouraging. Thirty-nine percent of CGCC students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — that's a strong result, especially since roughly 75% of undergrads attend part-time, which typically depresses transfer rates. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $51k, median debt for borrowers is $7,000, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $2,328, though the net price of $12,726 means students do draw on aid and other funding. Still, the combination of a high transfer rate, solid earnings, and minimal default risk makes CGCC a credible foundation for a bachelor's — provided you enter with a defined transfer plan.
- How does Chandler-Gilbert Community College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- CGCC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 39%. National research typically places the community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, which means CGCC substantially exceeds that benchmark. The figure is all the more notable given that 75% of CGCC students attend part-time — part-time enrollment generally lowers transfer rates by extending timelines and increasing stop-out risk. An additional 2.7% of students were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 24% had completed a credential at CGCC itself. Together, those figures suggest CGCC is functioning as an active feeder into the four-year system rather than a revolving door.
- What programs does Chandler-Gilbert Community College offer at meaningful scale?
- CGCC's highest-volume programs by completions are Art/Art Studies (643), Business/Commerce (362), Business Administration and Management (293), Liberal Arts and Sciences (284), and Natural Sciences (200). Registered Nursing produced 77 completions, matching Mechanic and Repair Technologies at 77, and Psychology reached 75. Aircraft Powerplant Technology, a more specialized track, added 71 completions. The breadth matters for transfer-bound students: business and liberal arts programs at this volume have developed advising infrastructure, course section availability, and transfer pathways that thinner offerings simply cannot match.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.