Phoenix College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Phoenix College comes closer — median earnings $40,870 against a $48,220 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Phoenix College | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,055 | $31,681 |
| Total net cost | $48,220 | $126,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,870 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $6,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$198,020 | -$400,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Phoenix College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe?
Phoenix College, at $12,055 a year after aid versus $31,681 — a gap of $19,626 a year, or $78,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Phoenix College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe graduates earn more?
Phoenix College graduates report a median $40,870 ten years after entry, $6,213 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. 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, Phoenix College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe?
Phoenix College: its completers carry a median $6,750 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, a difference of $2,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, against 14% at Phoenix 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.