Head-to-head comparison
American InterContinental University System vs Central Arizona College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chandler, AZ
American InterContinental University System
- Net price / year
- $15,172
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Coolidge, AZ
Central Arizona College
- Net price / year
- $4,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,513
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Arizona College comes closer — median earnings $40,513 against a $18,856 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | Central Arizona College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $4,714 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $18,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $40,513 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,010 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$175,796 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American InterContinental University System or Central Arizona College?
Central Arizona College, at $4,714 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $10,458 a year, or $41,832 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 American InterContinental University System or Central Arizona College graduates earn more?
Central Arizona College graduates report a median $40,513 ten years after entry, $4,369 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, American InterContinental University System or Central Arizona College?
Central Arizona College: its completers carry a median $10,010 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $20,990. 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?
27% of students finish at Central Arizona 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.