GateWay Community College-Central City vs Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but GateWay Community College-Central City comes closer — median earnings $46,147 against a $57,752 total, vs $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | GateWay Community College-Central City | Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,438 | $13,257 |
| Total net cost | $57,752 | $53,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,147 | $27,201 |
| Median debt | $6,750 | $6,221 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$102,012 | -$476,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, GateWay Community College-Central City or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC?
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC, at $13,257 a year after aid versus $14,438 — a gap of $1,181 a year, or $4,724 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do GateWay Community College-Central City or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC graduates earn more?
GateWay Community College-Central City graduates report a median $46,147 ten years after entry, $18,946 more than the $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. 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, GateWay Community College-Central City or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC?
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: its completers carry a median $6,221 in federal loans versus $6,750 at GateWay Community College-Central City, a difference of $529. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC, against 55% at GateWay Community College-Central City. 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.