Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe vs Southwest Institute of Healing Arts: 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 $29,544 at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,681 | $43,883 |
| Total net cost | $126,724 | $175,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $29,544 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$400,784 | -$551,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe or Southwest Institute of Healing Arts?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, at $31,681 a year after aid versus $43,883 — a gap of $12,202 a year, or $48,808 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 Southwest Institute of Healing Arts graduates earn more?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe graduates report a median $34,657 ten years after entry, $5,113 more than the $29,544 at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. 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 Southwest Institute of Healing Arts?
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 67% at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. 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.