Head-to-head comparison
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe vs GateWay Community College-Central City: which has better ROI?
Option A Tempe, AZ
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe
- Net price / year
- $31,681
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Phoenix, AZ
GateWay Community College-Central City
- Net price / year
- $14,438
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,147
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but GateWay Community College-Central City comes closer — median earnings $46,147 against a $57,752 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | GateWay Community College-Central City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,681 | $14,438 |
| Total net cost | $126,724 | $57,752 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $46,147 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$400,784 | -$102,012 |
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-Tempe or GateWay Community College-Central City?
GateWay Community College-Central City, at $14,438 a year after aid versus $31,681 — a gap of $17,243 a year, or $68,972 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-Tempe or GateWay Community College-Central City graduates earn more?
GateWay Community College-Central City graduates report a median $46,147 ten years after entry, $11,490 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. 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-Tempe or GateWay Community College-Central City?
GateWay Community College-Central City: its completers carry a median $6,750 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, a difference of $2,750. 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?
89% of students finish at Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe, against 55% at GateWay Community College-Central City. 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.