Head-to-head comparison
American InterContinental University System vs South Mountain Community 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 Phoenix, AZ
South Mountain Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,780
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,825
- Payback
- No payback
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 $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | South Mountain Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $12,780 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $51,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $39,825 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $8,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$221,820 |
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 South Mountain Community College?
South Mountain Community College, at $12,780 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $2,392 a year, or $9,568 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 South Mountain Community College graduates earn more?
South Mountain Community College graduates report a median $39,825 ten years after entry, $3,681 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 South Mountain Community College?
South Mountain Community College: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $23,000. 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?
16% of students finish at South Mountain Community 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.