Head-to-head comparison
Austin Community College District vs Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: which has better ROI?
Option A Austin, TX
Austin Community College District
- Net price / year
- $6,390
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,177
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dallas, TX
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
- Net price / year
- $38,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Austin Community College District comes closer — median earnings $43,177 against a $12,780 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Austin Community College District | Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,390 | $38,488 |
| Total net cost | $12,780 | $153,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,177 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $10,499 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$116,440 | -$428,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Austin Community College District or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
Austin Community College District, at $6,390 a year after aid versus $38,488 — a gap of $32,098 a year, or $141,172 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 Austin Community College District or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas graduates earn more?
Austin Community College District graduates report a median $43,177 ten years after entry, $8,520 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. 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, Austin Community College District or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,499 at Austin Community College District, a difference of $999. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.