Head-to-head comparison
Estrella Mountain Community College vs Arizona College-Glendale: 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 Glendale, AZ
Arizona College-Glendale
- Net price / year
- $27,919
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- 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 $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Estrella Mountain Community College | Arizona College-Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,254 | $27,919 |
| Total net cost | $49,016 | $111,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,356 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $7,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$129,096 | -$385,736 |
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 Arizona College-Glendale?
Estrella Mountain Community College, at $12,254 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $15,665 a year, or $62,660 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 Arizona College-Glendale graduates earn more?
Estrella Mountain Community College graduates report a median $44,356 ten years after entry, $9,699 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. 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 Arizona College-Glendale?
Estrella Mountain Community College: its completers carry a median $7,500 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College-Glendale, a difference of $2,000. 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?
85% of students finish at Arizona College-Glendale, 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.