Chandler-Gilbert Community College vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott: which has better ROI?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $161,148 in 4.5 years versus 18.5 years at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $51,111 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chandler-Gilbert Community College | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,726 | $40,287 |
| Total net cost | $50,904 | $161,148 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,111 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $7,000 | $23,666 |
| Payback | 18.5 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $4,116 | $554,272 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chandler-Gilbert Community College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott?
Chandler-Gilbert Community College, at $12,726 a year after aid versus $40,287 — a gap of $27,561 a year, or $110,244 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Chandler-Gilbert Community College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $33,020 more than the $51,111 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. 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, Chandler-Gilbert Community College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott?
Chandler-Gilbert Community College: its completers carry a median $7,000 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, a difference of $16,666. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, against 30% at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. 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.