Head-to-head comparison
Grand Canyon University vs American InterContinental University System: which has better ROI?
Option A Phoenix, AZ
Grand Canyon University
- Net price / year
- $22,472
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,186
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chandler, AZ
American InterContinental University System
- Net price / year
- $15,172
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Grand Canyon University comes closer — median earnings $42,186 against a $89,888 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand Canyon University | American InterContinental University System |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,472 | $15,172 |
| Total net cost | $89,888 | $60,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,186 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $22,114 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,368 | -$305,008 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Grand Canyon University or American InterContinental University System?
American InterContinental University System, at $15,172 a year after aid versus $22,472 — a gap of $7,300 a year, or $29,200 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 Grand Canyon University or American InterContinental University System graduates earn more?
Grand Canyon University graduates report a median $42,186 ten years after entry, $6,042 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. 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, Grand Canyon University or American InterContinental University System?
Grand Canyon University: its completers carry a median $22,114 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $8,886. 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?
43% of students finish at Grand Canyon University, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. 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.