Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe vs Empire Beauty School-Avondale: 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 $23,589 at Empire Beauty School-Avondale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | Empire Beauty School-Avondale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,681 | $16,134 |
| Total net cost | $126,724 | $64,536 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $23,589 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $10,231 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$400,784 | -$559,956 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe or Empire Beauty School-Avondale?
Empire Beauty School-Avondale, at $16,134 a year after aid versus $31,681 — a gap of $15,547 a year, or $62,188 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 Empire Beauty School-Avondale graduates earn more?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe graduates report a median $34,657 ten years after entry, $11,068 more than the $23,589 at Empire Beauty School-Avondale. 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 Empire Beauty School-Avondale?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,231 at Empire Beauty School-Avondale, a difference of $731. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, against 53% at Empire Beauty School-Avondale. 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.