Head-to-head comparison
Northern Arizona University vs Chamberlain University-Arizona: which has better ROI?
Option A Flagstaff, AZ
Northern Arizona University
- Net price / year
- $14,158
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,384
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Phoenix, AZ
Chamberlain University-Arizona
- Net price / year
- $40,096
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,405
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Chamberlain University-Arizona has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $160,384 in 3.6 years versus 9.4 years at Northern Arizona University, on median earnings of $92,405 vs $54,384 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Arizona University | Chamberlain University-Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,158 | $40,096 |
| Total net cost | $56,632 | $160,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,384 | $92,405 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $20,919 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $63,848 | $720,516 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northern Arizona University or Chamberlain University-Arizona?
Northern Arizona University, at $14,158 a year after aid versus $40,096 — a gap of $25,938 a year, or $103,752 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 Northern Arizona University or Chamberlain University-Arizona graduates earn more?
Chamberlain University-Arizona graduates report a median $92,405 ten years after entry, $38,021 more than the $54,384 at Northern Arizona 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, Northern Arizona University or Chamberlain University-Arizona?
Northern Arizona University: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $20,919 at Chamberlain University-Arizona, a difference of $1,919. 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?
61% of students finish at Northern Arizona University, against 50% at Chamberlain University-Arizona. 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.