Rio Salado College vs American InterContinental University System: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rio Salado College comes closer — median earnings $41,015 against a $33,364 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rio Salado College | American InterContinental University System |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,341 | $15,172 |
| Total net cost | $33,364 | $60,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,015 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$180,264 | -$305,008 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rio Salado College or American InterContinental University System?
Rio Salado College, at $8,341 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $6,831 a year, or $27,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rio Salado College or American InterContinental University System graduates earn more?
Rio Salado College graduates report a median $41,015 ten years after entry, $4,871 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, Rio Salado College or American InterContinental University System?
Rio Salado College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $21,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
9% of students finish at Rio Salado 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.