Head-to-head comparison
Grand Canyon University vs Paradise Valley Community College: 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 Phoenix, AZ
Paradise Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,180
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,196
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paradise Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,196 against a $48,720 total, vs $42,186 at Grand Canyon University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand Canyon University | Paradise Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,472 | $12,180 |
| Total net cost | $89,888 | $48,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,186 | $47,196 |
| Median debt | $22,114 | $6,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,368 | -$72,000 |
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 Paradise Valley Community College?
Paradise Valley Community College, at $12,180 a year after aid versus $22,472 — a gap of $10,292 a year, or $41,168 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 Paradise Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Paradise Valley Community College graduates report a median $47,196 ten years after entry, $5,010 more than the $42,186 at Grand Canyon University. 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 Paradise Valley Community College?
Paradise Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $6,995 in federal loans versus $22,114 at Grand Canyon University, a difference of $15,119. 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 19% at Paradise Valley 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.