Head-to-head comparison
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott vs Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc: which has better ROI?
Option A Prescott, AZ
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
- Net price / year
- $40,287
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,131
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B Avondale, AZ
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc
- Net price / year
- $30,451
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 13.5 yrs
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $161,148 in 4.5 years versus 13.5 years at Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $52,873 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,287 | $30,451 |
| Total net cost | $161,148 | $60,902 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,131 | $52,873 |
| Median debt | $23,666 | $13,124 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 13.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $554,272 | $29,358 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott or Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc?
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc, at $30,451 a year after aid versus $40,287 — a gap of $9,836 a year, or $100,246 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 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott or Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $31,258 more than the $52,873 at Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc. 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, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott or Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc?
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc: its completers carry a median $13,124 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, a difference of $10,542. 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?
70% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc, against 68% at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott. 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.