Head-to-head comparison
Estrella Mountain Community College vs Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: which has better ROI?
Option A Avondale, AZ
Estrella Mountain Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,254
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,356
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chandler, AZ
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC
- Net price / year
- $13,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,201
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Estrella Mountain Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,356 against a $49,016 total, vs $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Estrella Mountain Community College | Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,254 | $13,257 |
| Total net cost | $49,016 | $53,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,356 | $27,201 |
| Median debt | $7,500 | $6,221 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$129,096 | -$476,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Estrella Mountain Community College or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC?
Estrella Mountain Community College, at $12,254 a year after aid versus $13,257 — a gap of $1,003 a year, or $4,012 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 Estrella Mountain Community College or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC graduates earn more?
Estrella Mountain Community College graduates report a median $44,356 ten years after entry, $17,155 more than the $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. 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, Estrella Mountain Community College or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC?
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: its completers carry a median $6,221 in federal loans versus $7,500 at Estrella Mountain Community College, a difference of $1,279. 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?
77% of students finish at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC, against 32% at Estrella Mountain Community College. 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.