Head-to-head comparison
GateWay Community College-Central City vs Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson: which has better ROI?
Option A Phoenix, AZ
GateWay Community College-Central City
- Net price / year
- $14,438
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,147
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tucson, AZ
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
- Net price / year
- $37,136
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
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 of Nursing-Tucson. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | GateWay Community College-Central City | Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,438 | $37,136 |
| Total net cost | $57,752 | $148,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,147 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $6,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$102,012 | -$422,604 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, GateWay Community College-Central City or Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson?
GateWay Community College-Central City, at $14,438 a year after aid versus $37,136 — a gap of $22,698 a year, or $90,792 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 GateWay Community College-Central City or Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson 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 of Nursing-Tucson. 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, GateWay Community College-Central City or Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson?
GateWay Community College-Central City: its completers carry a median $6,750 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson, a difference of $2,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.