Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe vs Carrington College-Mesa: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe comes closer — median earnings $34,657 against a $126,724 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Mesa. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | Carrington College-Mesa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,681 | $48,877 |
| Total net cost | $126,724 | $195,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$400,784 | -$428,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe or Carrington College-Mesa?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, at $31,681 a year after aid versus $48,877 — a gap of $17,196 a year, or $68,784 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 of Nursing-Tempe or Carrington College-Mesa graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Mesa graduates report a median $36,718 ten years after entry, $2,061 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. 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 of Nursing-Tempe or Carrington College-Mesa?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, against 54% at Carrington College-Mesa. 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.