Head-to-head comparison
Northern Arizona University vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott: 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 Prescott, AZ
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
- Net price / year
- $40,287
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,131
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $161,148 in 4.5 years versus 9.4 years at Northern Arizona University, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $54,384 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Arizona University | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,158 | $40,287 |
| Total net cost | $56,632 | $161,148 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,384 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $23,666 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $63,848 | $554,272 |
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 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott?
Northern Arizona University, at $14,158 a year after aid versus $40,287 — a gap of $26,129 a year, or $104,516 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 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $29,747 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 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott?
Northern Arizona University: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, a difference of $4,666. 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?
68% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, against 61% at Northern Arizona 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.