Centre College vs Galen College of Nursing-ARH: which has better ROI?
Galen College of Nursing-ARH has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $42,328 in 3.2 years versus 4.6 years at Centre College, on median earnings of $61,480 vs $66,240 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Centre College | Galen College of Nursing-ARH |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,781 | $21,164 |
| Total net cost | $83,124 | $42,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,240 | $61,480 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $24,166 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $274,476 | $220,072 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Centre College or Galen College of Nursing-ARH?
Centre College, at $20,781 a year after aid versus $21,164 — a gap of $383 a year, or $40,796 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Centre College or Galen College of Nursing-ARH graduates earn more?
Centre College graduates report a median $66,240 ten years after entry, $4,760 more than the $61,480 at Galen College of Nursing-ARH. 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, Centre College or Galen College of Nursing-ARH?
Galen College of Nursing-ARH: its completers carry a median $24,166 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Centre College, a difference of $2,834. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Centre College, against 63% at Galen College of Nursing-ARH. 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.