Mesa Community College vs American InterContinental University System: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mesa Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,034 against a $48,528 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mesa Community College | American InterContinental University System |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,132 | $15,172 |
| Total net cost | $48,528 | $60,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,034 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $7,473 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$135,048 | -$305,008 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mesa Community College or American InterContinental University System?
Mesa Community College, at $12,132 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $3,040 a year, or $12,160 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mesa Community College or American InterContinental University System graduates earn more?
Mesa Community College graduates report a median $44,034 ten years after entry, $7,890 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. 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, Mesa Community College or American InterContinental University System?
Mesa Community College: its completers carry a median $7,473 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $23,527. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
16% of students finish at Mesa Community College, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. 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.