Head-to-head comparison
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC vs Southwest Institute of Healing Arts: which has better ROI?
Option A Chandler, AZ
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC
- Net price / year
- $13,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,201
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tempe, AZ
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
- Net price / year
- $43,883
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,544
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC comes closer — median earnings $27,201 against a $53,028 total, vs $29,544 at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,257 | $43,883 |
| Total net cost | $53,028 | $175,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $27,201 | $29,544 |
| Median debt | $6,221 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$476,208 | -$551,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC or Southwest Institute of Healing Arts?
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC, at $13,257 a year after aid versus $43,883 — a gap of $30,626 a year, or $122,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC or Southwest Institute of Healing Arts graduates earn more?
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts graduates report a median $29,544 ten years after entry, $2,343 more than the $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC or Southwest Institute of Healing Arts?
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: its completers carry a median $6,221 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, a difference of $3,279. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC, against 67% at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. 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.