GateWay Community College-Central City vs Arizona College-Glendale: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but GateWay Community College-Central City comes closer — median earnings $46,147 against a $57,752 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | GateWay Community College-Central City | Arizona College-Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,438 | $27,919 |
| Total net cost | $57,752 | $111,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,147 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $6,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$102,012 | -$385,736 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, GateWay Community College-Central City or Arizona College-Glendale?
GateWay Community College-Central City, at $14,438 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $13,481 a year, or $53,924 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do GateWay Community College-Central City or Arizona College-Glendale graduates earn more?
GateWay Community College-Central City graduates report a median $46,147 ten years after entry, $11,490 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, GateWay Community College-Central City or Arizona College-Glendale?
GateWay Community College-Central City: its completers carry a median $6,750 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College-Glendale, a difference of $2,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Arizona College-Glendale, against 55% at GateWay Community College-Central City. 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.