Head-to-head comparison
American InterContinental University System vs Northland Pioneer 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 Holbrook, AZ
Northland Pioneer College
- Net price / year
- $9,240
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,199
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American InterContinental University System comes closer — median earnings $36,144 against a $60,688 total, vs $34,199 at Northland Pioneer College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | Northland Pioneer College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $9,240 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $36,960 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $34,199 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$320,180 |
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 Northland Pioneer College?
Northland Pioneer College, at $9,240 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $5,932 a year, or $23,728 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 Northland Pioneer College graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University System graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $1,945 more than the $34,199 at Northland Pioneer College. 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 graduates more of its students?
22% of students finish at Northland Pioneer 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.