South Mountain Community College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Mountain Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,825 against a $51,120 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Mountain Community College | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,780 | $31,681 |
| Total net cost | $51,120 | $126,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,825 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $8,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$221,820 | -$400,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Mountain Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe?
South Mountain Community College, at $12,780 a year after aid versus $31,681 — a gap of $18,901 a year, or $75,604 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South Mountain Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe graduates earn more?
South Mountain Community College graduates report a median $39,825 ten years after entry, $5,168 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, South Mountain Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe?
South Mountain Community College: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, a difference of $1,500. 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 16% at South Mountain Community 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.