Head-to-head comparison
Northern Arizona University vs Chandler-Gilbert Community College: 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 Chandler, AZ
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,726
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,111
- Payback
- 18.5 yrs
Northern Arizona University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $56,632 in 9.4 years versus 18.5 years at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, on median earnings of $54,384 vs $51,111 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Arizona University | Chandler-Gilbert Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,158 | $12,726 |
| Total net cost | $56,632 | $50,904 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,384 | $51,111 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $7,000 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 18.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $63,848 | $4,116 |
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 Chandler-Gilbert Community College?
Chandler-Gilbert Community College, at $12,726 a year after aid versus $14,158 — a gap of $1,432 a year, or $5,728 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 Chandler-Gilbert Community College graduates earn more?
Northern Arizona University graduates report a median $54,384 ten years after entry, $3,273 more than the $51,111 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. 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 Chandler-Gilbert Community College?
Chandler-Gilbert Community College: its completers carry a median $7,000 in federal loans versus $19,000 at Northern Arizona University, a difference of $12,000. 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 30% at Chandler-Gilbert 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.