Rio Salado College vs Arizona College-Glendale: 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 $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rio Salado College | Arizona College-Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,341 | $27,919 |
| Total net cost | $33,364 | $111,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,015 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$180,264 | -$385,736 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rio Salado College or Arizona College-Glendale?
Rio Salado College, at $8,341 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $19,578 a year, or $78,312 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 Arizona College-Glendale graduates earn more?
Rio Salado College graduates report a median $41,015 ten years after entry, $6,358 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. 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 Arizona College-Glendale?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Arizona College-Glendale, against 9% at Rio Salado 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.