Carrington College-Mesa — ROI, Cost & Payback
Carrington College-Mesa charges a net price of $48,877/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $195,508. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,718, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Carrington College-Mesa does not clear its cost — it ranks #54 of 63 Arizona colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $48,877/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $195,508 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,718 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,642/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$428,348 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Carrington College-Mesa's own numbers. Net price $48,877 × 4 years = $195,508 total. Median earnings $36,718 fall $11,642 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $195,508 bill in about 19.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Carrington College-Mesa students graduate with?
A median $9,500 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $36,718 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Carrington College-Mesa students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $195,508 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $362,052 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Carrington College-Mesa expensive compared with other Arizona colleges?
Its $48,877 net price runs $31,438 above the $17,439 median across the 63 Arizona colleges we profile, or $125,752 more across the full degree.