Head-to-head comparison
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora vs Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs: which has better ROI?
Option A Aurora, CO
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
- Net price / year
- $37,153
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Colorado Springs, CO
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs
- Net price / year
- $22,022
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,683
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora comes closer — median earnings $34,657 against a $148,612 total, vs $27,683 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora | Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,153 | $22,022 |
| Total net cost | $148,612 | $88,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $27,683 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$422,672 | -$501,628 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs?
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs, at $22,022 a year after aid versus $37,153 — a gap of $15,131 a year, or $60,524 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 Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs graduates earn more?
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora graduates report a median $34,657 ten years after entry, $6,974 more than the $27,683 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs. 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, Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs?
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs: its completers carry a median $7,667 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora, a difference of $1,833. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.