Head-to-head comparison
Grand Canyon University vs Arizona College-Glendale: 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 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 Grand Canyon University comes closer — median earnings $42,186 against a $89,888 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand Canyon University | Arizona College-Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,472 | $27,919 |
| Total net cost | $89,888 | $111,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,186 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $22,114 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,368 | -$385,736 |
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 Arizona College-Glendale?
Grand Canyon University, at $22,472 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $5,447 a year, or $21,788 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 Arizona College-Glendale graduates earn more?
Grand Canyon University graduates report a median $42,186 ten years after entry, $7,529 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, Grand Canyon University or Arizona College-Glendale?
Arizona College-Glendale: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $22,114 at Grand Canyon University, a difference of $12,614. 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 43% at Grand Canyon University. 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.