American InterContinental University System vs Paradise Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paradise Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,196 against a $48,720 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | Paradise Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $12,180 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $48,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $47,196 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $6,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$72,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American InterContinental University System or Paradise Valley Community College?
Paradise Valley Community College, at $12,180 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $2,992 a year, or $11,968 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do American InterContinental University System or Paradise Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Paradise Valley Community College graduates report a median $47,196 ten years after entry, $11,052 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, American InterContinental University System or Paradise Valley Community College?
Paradise Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $6,995 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $24,005. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
19% of students finish at Paradise Valley Community College, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.