Arizona College-Glendale vs Empire Beauty School-Tucson: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arizona College-Glendale comes closer — median earnings $34,657 against a $111,676 total, vs $25,073 at Empire Beauty School-Tucson. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College-Glendale | Empire Beauty School-Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,919 | $17,013 |
| Total net cost | $111,676 | $68,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $25,073 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$385,736 | -$533,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arizona College-Glendale or Empire Beauty School-Tucson?
Empire Beauty School-Tucson, at $17,013 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $10,906 a year, or $43,624 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Arizona College-Glendale or Empire Beauty School-Tucson graduates earn more?
Arizona College-Glendale graduates report a median $34,657 ten years after entry, $9,584 more than the $25,073 at Empire Beauty School-Tucson. 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, Arizona College-Glendale or Empire Beauty School-Tucson?
Arizona College-Glendale: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Empire Beauty School-Tucson, a difference of $3,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Arizona College-Glendale, against 83% at Empire Beauty School-Tucson. 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.