Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach vs Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay: which has better ROI?
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $56,394 in 4.3 years versus 4.6 years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, on median earnings of $61,480 vs $84,131 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,272 | $28,197 |
| Total net cost | $165,088 | $56,394 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,131 | $61,480 |
| Median debt | $23,666 | $24,166 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $550,332 | $206,006 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach or Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay?
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay, at $28,197 a year after aid versus $41,272 — a gap of $13,075 a year, or $108,694 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach or Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $22,651 more than the $61,480 at Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay. 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, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach or Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach: its completers carry a median $23,666 in federal loans versus $24,166 at Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, against 63% at Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay. 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.