Head-to-head comparison
Palm Beach State College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa: which has better ROI?
Option A Lake Worth, FL
Palm Beach State College
- Net price / year
- $9,182
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,923
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tampa, FL
Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa
- Net price / year
- $36,680
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Palm Beach State College comes closer — median earnings $41,923 against a $18,364 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Palm Beach State College | Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,182 | $36,680 |
| Total net cost | $18,364 | $146,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,923 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $7,081 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,104 | -$420,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Palm Beach State College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa?
Palm Beach State College, at $9,182 a year after aid versus $36,680 — a gap of $27,498 a year, or $128,356 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 Palm Beach State College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa graduates earn more?
Palm Beach State College graduates report a median $41,923 ten years after entry, $7,266 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa. 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, Palm Beach State College or Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa?
Palm Beach State College: its completers carry a median $7,081 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa, a difference of $2,419. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.