Head-to-head comparison
College of the Mainland vs Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: which has better ROI?
Option A Texas City, TX
College of the Mainland
- Net price / year
- $1,342
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,639
- 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 College of the Mainland comes closer — median earnings $39,639 against a $2,684 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Mainland | Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,342 | $38,488 |
| Total net cost | $2,684 | $153,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,639 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $5,960 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$177,104 | -$428,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of the Mainland or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
College of the Mainland, at $1,342 a year after aid versus $38,488 — a gap of $37,146 a year, or $151,268 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 College of the Mainland or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas graduates earn more?
College of the Mainland graduates report a median $39,639 ten years after entry, $4,982 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, College of the Mainland or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
College of the Mainland: its completers carry a median $5,960 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas, a difference of $3,540. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.